London - Many dog owners like to leave the radio on to keep their pet company when they have to pop out.

But working out what type of music your pooch wants to listen to has been a little difficult until now.

Researchers have looked into what genres dogs enjoy the most, and it would appear that they are fans of soft rock and reggae.

Both lowered the animals stress levels and made them behave better according to the study, which was published in the journal Physiology and Behaviour.

Glasgow University researchers played music into the kennels of dogs that were waiting to be found homes by an animal charity.

When soft rock and reggae were played, the dogs heart rate variability was significantly higher, showing their stress rate had fallen. They were also calmer and more relaxed, spending less time standing and barking.

It follows a previous study in which dogs were discovered to find classical music soothing but got bored with it after a day.

Neil Evans, professor of integrative physiology at Glasgow University, said: "Overall the response to different genres was mixed, highlighting the possibility that, like humans, our canine friends have their own individual music preferences. That being said, reggae music and soft rock showed the highest positive changes in behaviour.

"There is some evidence from work in humans that suggests that the relaxing effects of music are related to aspects of tempo or repeated motifs that can be present in the music. Possibly the reggae and soft rock have that more overtly expressed."

The study examined dogs in a rescue centre run by the Scottish SPCA in Dumbarton over a fortnight.

Researchers looked at the dogs stress levels, which was measured through heart rates, saliva samples and observation of behaviour. They found the levels decreased significantly after listening to music.

The charity says it is now going to buy sound systems to pipe music into the kennels of all their re-homing centres.

Daily Mail

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Bach? No, your pooch would rather listen to Marley - Independent Online

Shhh. Hear that? No? That's surprising. Odds are, you can hear something right now: A siren, the hum of a fan, the blur of background conversations, the ticking of a watch. It's seldom our worlds are fully silent-so seldom that complete silence feels shocking.

This post originally appeared on the Zapier blog.

We welcome sound into our lives sometimes to our detriment. Silence, perhaps, is our most under-appreciated productivity tool. So let's talk about noise.

It's common knowledge that the jarring sound of a jackhammer-or the loud blasts of a rock concert-can damage our hearing, but that's not the only type of harmful noise.

Two types of everyday noise can be bad for us. One is excessive noise, such as the prolonged loud noise of being near an airport. The other is simply the distraction of general noise around us, such as conversations or interruptions from colleagues in the workplace.

The former may seem worse, but both can be detrimental to our productivity-and sanity.

Being around excessive noise has been found to affect our health quite seriously. Epidemiologists have found correlations between chronic noise sources such as highways and airports and high blood pressure, something that in turn can lead to other health risks, including damage to our brains and kidneys.

Other studies have found links between noise and sleep loss, heart disease, and tinnitus. People who live in consistently noisy places also commonly have elevated levels of stress hormones.

Quite ahead of her time, Florence Nightingale reportedly considered quiet an important part of patient care. Concerningly, modern hospitals have become far noisier than they were in the past. As more technology is added to wards, the average noise level in hospitals is well above the World Health Organization's hospital noise guidelines for patient rooms, something that is detrimental to patient health and recovery. Such a noisy environment can even cause doctors to confuse similar-sounding drugs-a potentially deadly mistake caused by excess noise.

So what about those of us who don't live or work near an airport or a highway? How does general daily noise affect us?

For most of us, daily noise tends to involve interruptions and distractions. Coworkers, meetings, phone calls, bustling cafes, street noise, and our phone's various notification sounds all vie for our attention as we try to work.

If you work in an open plan office, you'll probably find this is an even greater problem. Ollie Campbell, CEO of Milanote and part of Navy Design's multi-disciplinary team, says open plan offices come with their own implicit values. They make team members feel that disruption is acceptable, collaboration is the key priority, and serendipity is worth the interruptions it requires. According to Campbell:

In most workplaces, focused work is left to chance. If nobody's called you for a meeting that day, you might get an afternoon to yourself.

If you're lucky.

Distractions and interruptions are such a common part of our workdays, we don't even think of them as excessive noise anymore. It's often more obvious when we don't hear the noise of distractions around us at work than when we do.. A study at the University of California, Irvine, found that knowledge workers have focus periods of just eleven minutes on average, in-between interruptions. As Campbell said, "if you need to focus, 'work' is pretty much the worst place you could be."

Collaboration is important, but so is focus-particularly for those of us who are creators. For knowledge workers, our work happens between us and the blank page. Disruptions and noise only interrupt that process.

Between interruptions, distractions, background noise, and general lack of calm and quiet, the noise of the office can be harmful. With a buzzing office around you, a bustling street out the window, and something distracting you every three minutes, it's almost impossible to create anything of value.

Shutting both types of noise out-literal (and excessive) sound, and the more general commotion of the modern workplace-can improve our ability to focus and create our best work.

Here's why you should replace noise with silence.

For a long time, researchers used silence as a control in experiments testing the effects of sound or noise. After realizing silence was fascinating in itself, researchers started focusing more on the effects of silence than relegating it to control status.

In one experiment testing how the brain reacts to different types of music, silence was used as a control between the different music clips. But silence actually produced one of the most interesting effects. When compared with so-called "relaxing" music-or even long silence before the experiment began-short, two-minute silent pauses between the music actually proved more relaxing on the brain. It seems the effect of silence is heightened by contrasting it with noise.

Perhaps our strong reaction to silence's relaxing effects is related to how our brains work when they're not bombarded by the outside world. Research suggests our brains are never really quiet-instead, they're always working, even when we're not actively engaged in a conscious activity. In fact, science suggests when we do engage our brain in a conscious effort, it actually overrides the brain's "default mode," temporarily diverting resources to what we want to do.

Complete silence, then, allows the brain to return to its normal default state and continue its processing.

Our brain's ongoing background processing seems to be responsible for the sounds our brain makes, too. For instance, when a song you know well is stopped in the middle of the chorus, your brain will often fill in the gap by creating the sound of the next line of the song. You're not actually hearing anything, but rather creating that sound inside your mind, according Robert Zatorre, an expert on the neurology of sound. "In the absence of sound, the brain often tends to produce internal representations of sound," says Zatorre.

Silence isn't simply relaxing for the brain, either. One study of mice found that listening to silence for two hours every day prompted the subjects' brains to grow new cells in the hippocampus, which is related to our brain's memory abilities. While new cell growth doesn't always provide health benefits, in this case those new cells did become new, functioning neurons within the mice brains. In other words, silence could make you a little smarter.

The ability to shut out the world around us can be beneficial, beyond the pure benefits of silence. Both thinking creatively and considering long-term decisions are skills that, according to psychologist Jonathan Smallwood, "allow us to generate novel solutions to problems," and to stick to our plans long enough to reach our goals.

"It seems that the capacity to disengage from the outside world when the external environment is sufficiently benign reflects a skill set that is important to almost every human endeavor," says Smallwood. Put simply, these skills help us achieve success.

Smallwood isn't the only one who thinks getting away from the noise of the world is a useful habit to build. French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal believed humans should learn to be quiet more often, as expressed in his famous quote: "All the unhappiness of men arises from one simple fact: that they cannot sit quietly in their chamber."

Derek Sivers, writer and founder of CDBaby, says spending time alone, away from the noise of the world, provides the best opportunity for creating new work:

It's not that I hate people. The other best times in my life were with people. But it's interesting how many highlights were just sitting in a room, in that wonderful creative flow. Free from the chatter of the world.

For Sivers, spending time unplugged, disconnected, and in silence is where he feels most creative. "Silence is a great canvas for your thoughts," says Sivers.

At design agency Navy, the struggle to get work done in the office was real. The constant distractions and regular noise was such an issue that employees were staying home when they really needed to focus. To fix this, the Navy team instituted daily "quiet time."

Before lunch at Navy HQ, the team agrees to be completely silent. Not just in person, but online, too. No emails, no slack, no tapping colleagues on the shoulder, and especially no meetings. They even put their phones away in drawers so they can really focus. As Campbell explains, "Quiet time is a contract: a few hours a week where we agree to work even if we don't feel like it."

Though it took months to get used to regular quiet time, after doing it for four years the team is now 23 per cent more productive. They're also less stressed overall and are able to take Friday afternoons off because they get so much done during the week.

It worked. "Work has become the best place to get things done," says Campbell.

You can't always escape noise. Sirens will go by, you'll get stuck at an airport for hours, and you can't force your coworkers to be quiet. And sometimes, you'll want to work from a noisy coffeeshop or attend a concert.

But when you can, it's worth choosing silence. Perhaps you can start by adding a period of strict quiet time in your workplace. Strive to find small pockets of silence for yourself during the day, and savor the silence. Or, if you can, perhaps it's time to add extra insulation and block out the consistent noise from your home and office, something that might pay for itself in increased focus and direct health benefits.

Finding silence and a calm space for yourself won't just improve your health-it'll help you do the best work you can.

The Power of Silence: Why You Need Less Noise for Work and Your Health | Zapier

Belle Beth Cooper is the co-founder of Exist, a personal analytics platform to help you understand your life.

Image by Antonis Spiridakis via Unsplash.

See original here:

Why You Need Less Noise for Work and Your Health - LifeHacker India

The following titles have been received at the library, and are available for checkout:

Fatal by John Lescroart, fiction

Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen, fiction

Leave Me by Gayle Forman, large print fiction

Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory, large print fiction

Paris for One by Jojo Moyes, large print fiction

Damaged by Lisa Scottoline, large print fiction

Love Made New by Kathleen Fuller, large print fiction

No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer, large print fiction

Whole Towns Talking by Fannie Flagg, large print fiction

Traces of Guilt by Dee Henderson, large print fiction

Christmas Town by Donna VanLiere, large print fiction

*****

Please continue to browse our new Friends of the Mount Airy Public Library used bookshop, Between the Covers, on Main Street. The shop is run by volunteers, and we depend on book donations for our stock. Your purchases benefit the library, so shop with a good cause in mind! The stores now has gift certificates for sale, and old record albums and 45s have been added to the stock. The phone number is 336-648-8176, if you have questions.

*****

The annual Northwestern Regional Library Photography Contest is under way again, and the deadline will be March 17 to submit entries. The theme for this years contest is Transformation. Brochures with guidelines and entry forms are available at the front desk of member libraries.

*****

The Magic Tree House Book Club for kids has begun meeting at the Mount Airy Public Library on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. with reading books and doing activities from the beloved series by Mary Pope Osborne. Please note, this is a change from the former Monday meeting time.

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Preschool story times are held on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. for 2- and 3-year-olds, and on Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. for 4-and 5-year-olds.

*****

Baby Storytime, for babies from birth to 24 months, will meet on Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m.

*****

Wednesday at 4 p.m. we are here to help you get started using ancestry.com to track your genealogy. Stop by the front desk to ask for help in beginning your search.

*****

A Basic Spanish Class for adults will now be offered at the library on Monday afternoons at 5 p.m., led by instructor Maria Luisa Saldarriaga.

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Pajama Story time for kids takes place each Thursday night at 7 p.m. The kids are welcome to wear their pajamas, and bring their cuddle toys. Well hear a couple of stories, and do an activity that goes with the story.

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The library has an Adult Coloring Class on Thursday nights, at 6 p.m. till 8 p.m. The library supplies coloring sheets, colored pencils, and markers, but are are welcome to bring their own supplies as well. The library plays relaxing music, and those participating enjoy hot drinks for those whod like coffee or tea.

*****

Tai Chi is offered each Friday morning at 10 a.m. This class is for everyone, but especially for those with limited mobility, due to conditions such as arthritis.

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The Community Book Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, at 1 p.m. New members are always welcome.

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Teens, aged 12-19 years old, are invited to a new club at the library, called Choices, where well discuss books, movies, music, art, whatever interests them. We will meet on the first Thursday of each month, at 4 p.m.

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Our Young Actors Workshops will take place on every Tuesday in January, at 4 p.m., for kids aged 7-19 years old. We will be rehearsing the play, Frozen Hearts, to be performed on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 11 a.m.

*****

Questions? Call the library at 336-789-5108. Find us on Facebook at Friends of the Mount Airy Public Library.

Go to our website to view our events and catalog online at nwrl.org.

Library hours:

Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. till 5 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. till 1 p.m.

.

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Mt. Airy News | Booksmarts - Mount Airy News

A new event in Kingston SE, Sunset Jazz in the Park, has been established to enhance the annual triathlon weekend.

Tune: Members of the Royal Australian Navy Band will be providing entertainment at Kingston's Sunset Jazz in the Park on Saturday.

A new event in Kingston, Sunset Jazz in the Park,has been established toenhance the annual triathlon weekend.

Adding another event to thisweekends upcoming triathlon is aimed at encouragingtourists to stay longer and explore the town ofKingston.

The event will start at 5pm on Saturdayand continueuntil around 9pm, with entertainment for all ages and food and drink stalls at Lions Park.

The Royal Australian Navy Band were happy to come and play for a night in Kingston and that was how the sunset jazz in the Lions Park was born.

The Royal Australian Navy Rock group will be the entertainment at the triathlon event on Sunday.

The Lions Club is putting on a barbecue, the fundraising committee from the school is doing fish and coleslaw rolls, there will be donuts, a coffee van andthe Royal Flying Doctor Service are doingdesserts -mini cheesecakes and meringue nests.

Kingston tourism and community engagement officerTess Armfield described the concept of the sunset jazz as a good opportunity to bring something to the community to add to theevents happening in February as summer starts to end.

Thecouncil are putting on free activities for the kids a jumping castle, mini golf, face painting andbubble soccer so they can have a bit of fun with that, she said.

We are trying to encourage people to get a group together, come down to the park, bring your picnic rug, bring your friends, have a drink and just have a relaxing afternoon, listening to the music.

Alcohol is not being sold but patrons are welcome to bring their own.

If people want to bring an esky of beer or wine they are more than welcome, Tess said.

The organisers have made an effort to widely promote the new event,with advertising in the newspaper and posters around town and on the councils Facebook page.

But now they need people locals and visitors alike to come out and support the concept to ensure it is held again in the future.

Athletes competing in this weekends triathlon are encouraged to pick up their race pack from 5pm down at the triathlon site, then walkto the park and have a bite to eat.

It wont be a late night -something relaxing and participants can still feel fresh for the next days race.

Great music, great food and a great atmosphere will be a perfect complement to Sundays triathlon.

Link:

Music and fun for all ages this weekend - Coastal Leader

What is it?

Solve puzzles and outwit enemies by moving a beam of light through two-dimensional mazes

Games like Braid or Edge Extended; mazes; pleasant things

When I play Linelight, I feel at peace. Soothing piano tracks loop as I guide a tiny colored light down a winding path. I come across a barrier blocking my path. A few switches are located off of the main path - activating them simultaneously will destroy the barrier, but there's no way I can hit them both at the same time. A red light is marching back and forth on a separate track. I can guide them over with some deft maneuvering, but it's tricky. Getting hit isn't frustrating, though. I just start the puzzle over again, the calming music and minimalist, low-key vibe of Linelight ensuring that I enjoy every single minute of its clever puzzles.

And Linelight is very smart. It constantly builds on itself, introducing small ideas, twisting them, then adding more as you progress through its half-dozen worlds. First, you'll learn how to manipulate line sections, moving them in and out of place by passing through gate switches. Then, Linelight throws some trickier puzzles at you. Then, you realize that enemy lights can also activate switches for you, which you can use to move these sections into place. By the end of the first world, you're working alongside an adversary, crossing paths back and forth, helping the red light progress while it helps you do the same.

Later worlds take these concepts and expand on them even further. You'll find enemies that only move when you do, or only move when you hold down a button. You'll find little spirally bits that stick out of some lines, and when you move through them your light will grow or shrink in size. You'll find switches that create a copy of you and perform your last five seconds of input. And you'll have to eventually use all of these abilities in conjunction with one another to avoid enemies, snag keys, unlock doors, and grab gems.

But the thing I think I like most about Linelight is that it allows you to enjoy it on your own terms. There are puzzles that it forces you to complete, but a lot of the bonus objectives and secrets are totally up to you. Want to bang your head against this puzzle long enough to make the little red line grab the key for you and bring it out to where you're waiting? Go for it. Don't feel like it? Move on past it - that gem will be waiting for you when you're ready for it. And if you're really devoted, you'll seek out paths hidden along the way which unlock even more puzzles to solve and bonus areas to explore.

Linelight is unpretentious minimalism at its best. There's no story, no deeper message; just you, a bunch of lights, some relaxing music, and a handful of really smart brain teasers. Fire it up and forget about the world for a few minutes. You'll be glad you did.

You Should Be Playing celebrates innovative, unexpected games that belong on your radar, with a new game every Monday at 0900 PST / 1700 GMT. Follow @gamesradar on Twitter for updates.

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Smart, simple, and soothing: You should be playing Linelight - GamesRadar

In todays ultra-hectic world, figuring out how to forget the daily rush and find a way to relax can be something of a challenge, especially during the dreary end-of-winter months.

Not to worry: Weve compiled a few tips and ideas from some local folks doing their best to calm down, go with the flow and relax.

Mom and daughter Kathy and Emily Doherty are both in the midst of more than average stress. Kathy is getting divorced and Emily is a single mom of a 3-year old. Toss in that Emilys son is about to go to daycare for the first time and its apparent why finding time to relax is a top priority for both mom and daughter.

Kathy, an avid reader, has changed her reading list to help her soothe her worries.

One thing I have done to help me relax is switch from reading non-fiction to fiction, Kathy said. Reading a beautiful or silly story instead of the stark truth of non-fiction takes me out of my own head and helps put everything into perspective.

Emily ventures into the great outdoors to do some stargazing when shes feeling overwhelmed.

Theres something about looking up at a starlit sky that helps remind me how small and fleeting and not permanent our troubles are, Emily said. It doesnt always calm me down, but it usually helps.

Both Doherty women enjoy wandering around bookstores to relax. Neither are fond of malls, but thrift stores are another source of relaxation. One final relaxation tip that works for both women can be found in the comfort of their own living room.

The one thing that does seem to calm both of us down is binge watching Charmed on Netflix, Kathy said. Works every time.

Relationship troubles

Shelly Holts day job is a mental health therapist for the Counseling Services of Southern Minnesota where she sees people who are facing all kinds of different stress inducing situations.

Clients come in with all sorts of issues theyd like to address and almost all create stress responses, Holt said. Relationship problems are the No. 1 concern of most of my clients whether they are 6 or 70.

Holt works with her clients to learn about the mind and body connection and what is within their control.

I help them uncover what the triggers are, what their personal stress reactions are and how they currently cope with stress. So many people dont realize that there is a connection between their mind and body, Holt said. Many people use unhealthy coping such as overeating, overuse of alcohol or other substances thinking that will help them to relax, but more often than not these things are excessive and counterproductive. I teach them what I know and practice myself. They can then try different methods and determine what works for them.

What works for Holt are a variety of techniques including mindful activities such as focused breathing, visualization, yoga and prayer. Holt also meditates and listens to relaxing music, takes Epsom salt baths and uses aromatherapy.

I get a weekly massage and I love to read, Holt said. In the summer I garden, take long walks and sit by the bonfire because those activities help ground me. I work hard to put a lot of margin around and am choosy with what and who Im involved with because my occupation can be stressful.

Holt also suggests staying away from sensory stimulating activities like watching too much television, spending too much time on the computer, fluorescent lights and loud music.

No more 80s rock bands, Holt said. They cause stressful responses in me.

Holt said that the most important thing she has learned is when to use the word no.

We often add or even create our own stress by overextending ourselves, Holt said. Some people relax by being with other or engaging in activities. I need solitude. It just depends on how one is wired.

Brittany Bushaw has been a massage therapist for 10 years and a yoga instructor for eight. She currently works at Indigo Organic where, following a massage, she provides clients with yoga stretches and postures for them to do to help sustain the relaxation and tension relief achieved in the massage session.

I have seen people have amazing transitions in pain relief by doing a few simple yoga stretches between massages, Bushaw said.

Yoga is an intentional practice of moving the body in correlation with the breath. By focusing on deep breathing along with specific body movements, the mind becomes present in the moment and the outside world drops away naturally.

Now that the mind is getting a break from thinking and is relaxed and still, the body then begins to feel the effects of the relaxed mind and follows suit, Bushaw said.

Bushaw had a few suggestions for someone trying to relax.

If you are tense I would suggest moving to a comfortable sitting or lying down position. Close your eyes and turn your attention to your breathing. Is it shallow? Short? Choppy? Try to breath in slow, deep, smooth breaths. Then turn your attention to where your tension lies. Breath into that space of tension or pain. Listen to your body and move slowly.

Bushaw said that if pain is in the neck, lower the chin to the chest and the ear to the shoulder. If its upper back pain, begin to relax the shoulders away from the ears and roll the shoulders out. Hip pain can be alleviated by standing and swaying hips side to side with bent knees.

Enter the tense places in your body with curiosity, Bushaw said. What in your daily life is causing the tension? What movement feels good and what movement creates discomfort? Yoga means union, and if you are breathing while focusing on mindful movement then you are doing yoga.

Bushaw also said the most valuable relaxation tool is one that is with everyone at all times: our breath.

By focusing on deepening our breath, our mind lets go and our heart rate slows down. Most people believe they need to set special time aside to relax or have their environment perfectly set up. While those are helpful, your mind and body dont need all of that. They just need you to be aware of your breath and slow it down to relax, Bushaw said.

Continued here:

Just relax! Feeling stressed? It's OK, we've got tips to help you get through the worst of it - Mankato Free Press

Feb 6, 2017 1:01 PM

When not accompanied by judges, time constraints, or raging grease fires, cooking is actually quite relaxing. Theres the rhythm of chopping, the soul-warming smells, and the simple joy of creation. Blame Emeril and his signature BAM! for that feeling failing to translate on TV, where chefs tend to prattle and crack catchphrases against saucy guitar licks or otherwise oppressive soundtracks.

But then theres Peaceful Kitchen, a YouTube channel out of Japan that strips away the excess. In lieu of hosts and dialogue, the videos emphasize the cooking process with close-ups and relevant text. Whats also pronounced are the organic sounds, such as the crinkle of chopped lettuce or whirr of nuts being pulverized in a blender. Some videos have accompanying music, but theres also a subsection devoted to ones without it. In both instances, the effect is both soothing and mouthwatering.

The channel is vegan, though it encompasses a multitude of dishes, from homemade kimchi to boiled dumplings and even ice cream. Theres even a DIY series showing how founder Ryoya Takashima built his own kitchen. Those videos, as you might imagine are, well, less peaceful.

Submit your Great Job, Internet tips here.

Previous Great Job, Internet! Someone turned Tim Allens grunts into beautiful music

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This quiet YouTube cooking channel is the diametric opposite of Guy Fieri - A.V. Club (blog)

Stressed out, high-strung dogsprobably just need to chill out and lounge to some tunes, especially reggae and soft rock according to a new study from the University of Glasgow.

Working with theScottish SPCA, researcher Amy Bowman sought to discover which genres of music proved to be the most calming for dogs in kennels, which are high-stress environments.

Previously, SPCAstaff could play the radio or any sort of music they wanted in their offices, but when the Scottish government implemented music licensing fees for public spaces, the organization wanted to ensure that the cost would be worth it to play music for animals in their care.

READ MORE: Dogs understand what we say, study shows just like we thought

Earlier studies had shown positive responses to classical music from kennelled dogs, but the dogs were only exposed to the music for an hour or so. Bowman wanted to test the response for longer-term exposure to classical music.

We found out that they got a little bored towards the end [of seven days], said Bowman. So we thought lets try playing them different genres of music!

They settled on what Bowman called broad, popular genres of music: pop, Motown, reggae and soft rock.

What the researchers found was that the dogs exhibited calmer behaviour such as lying down, sleeping, less barking and not jumping up on the bars. This was especially true for when they listened to reggae and soft rock; Motown proved to have a lesser effect on the dogs.

They believe it was the variety of music that kept the pups interested and engaged, so that the music had a positive effect on them.

READ MORE: Dogs have a better memory than you think, new study says

Although different dogs had different responses to the various genres, Bowman found that the dogs were 142 times more likely to start barking again once the music was turned off.

Bowman also said that she couldnt conclusively say whether different breeds of dogs preferred Bob Marley over Celine Dion, but could say for sure that playing music did help them as a whole.

With these results, the Scottish SPCA said they are installing speaker systems into their dog kennels to help soothe the dogs in their care and give them a better chance of being adopted out.

For dogs in a kennelled environment to improve and make that stress less for them thats beneficial, said Gilly Mendes Ferreira, head of research and policy at the Scottish SPCA. The less stress, the less they show undesirable behaviours.

Bowman believes her research could also apply to dogs that are already in a comfortable home environment, especially for those stressful moments such as when their owner leaves the house for the day.

Just chucking on the radio or putting on a CD or something that you might listen to when youre there, I think that can help, because it gives them something to listen to and it also might mask sounds that frighten them, she said.

The next step for Bowmans research is breaking down which elements of the music really affected the dogs in the kennel. She is analyzing data to see whether it was a specific instrument, tone, rhythm or tempo that gave the most positive impact on the dogs stress levels.

2017Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Continued here:

Reggae, soft rock best at relaxing stressed out dogs: study - Globalnews.ca

An ongoing debate focuses on whether or not music belongs in your workspace. From studying to working in an office to exercising, many different researchers have considered what effect music has on our brains, and how we should as a society embrace or shun music in spaces that require a certain amount of concentration.

Let's take a look at the available research so that we can understand how music supports the brain and the places where it serves as a distraction.

When we are talking about how to encourage children to be more creative, thoughtful, empathetic, and have better fine-motor skills, researchers have long since known that playing an instrument is a crucial tool.

Most of us have brains that are larger on either the right or left side; this roughly correlates to our skills with logic and creativity, although the processes are much more complicated than that explanation indicates. Musicians, however, have brains that are much more likely to be symmetrical.

They show higher scores on traditional intelligence tests, indicating that the two sides of their brain work better together. Researchers have also found that musicians have improved spatial relationship skills, showing a correlation between music and visual skills that we don't fully understand yet.

While it does seem to be playing music that causes the biggest improvements in brain function, it's still important to understand the dramatic effects that music can have on our brains.

When you ask researchers "Will music help me complete this task," the first question they tend to ask in response is "What is the task?"

When you need to complete a repetitive task that doesn't require a great deal of attention once it is learned, music is a critical way to reduce task fatigue. Task fatigue refers to how completing a task over and over can start to feel boring and frustrating.

By having music to distract your brain from the repetitiveness of tasks, workers can generally continue to work for longer without needing a break to recharge. This can increase productivity.

With more awareness of autism and ADHD in the public sphere, it's likely that employers may start to have employees explaining that they will do better at work if they can put on headphones playing their own music. Research supports the idea that simple noise suppression is uncomfortable, but that in busy environments, having some music to focus on can make sensory input bearable.

In situations like these, having adults choose their own music can be a crucial accommodation.

We have long since known that music increase dopamine production, so much so that music therapy is a valid technique in some situations. Dopamine is the brain chemical that is released during rewards, so having music boosting dopamine levels while completing tasks can help us feel rewarded and powerful while completing tasks that otherwise can feel very frustrating.

One of the ways that music is particularly helpful is that it marks the passage of time. Especially when you're working on something repetitive and not particularly engaging, time can seem to dilate. This makes you feel like ages must have passed, while very little time has actually gone by.

Since music creates a more deliberate demarcation in time, it's easier to keep your perception of time accurate, and not get discouraged by feeling like you've been doing the job forever.

If you've ever been a fan of a band, music, or song, you know that community can be created around music. Many people think of "What type of music do you listen to" or "Who are your favorite artists" to be great icebreaker conversations. Talking about music gives us a chance to get to know another person without delving too deeply into personal particulars.

In a work environment, where supporting work friendships helps to create a positive work environment, the community can be a valuable benefit.

Many offices are moving towards open office spaces. These areas are believed to be good for collaboration, good for morale, and easier to afford and maintain. But they can also be loud, distracting, and frustrating.

Allowing employees to bring in their own music to listen to on headphones can greatly help employees to focus and avoid distractions. Even if they only put one headphone on or earbud in, so that they can hear someone trying to catch their attention, their ability to focus and concentrate will probably be dramatically improved.

When we are less bored by tasks and less frustrated at needing to complete a particular assignment, we are more motivated to get our work done. This has benefits for employees who need to do many highly repetitive tasks as well as those who have many roles they love to play, and one they dread.

When employees aren't dragged down by one task after another, they are happier at work overall and have more energy for all of their work. Even the things they normally enjoyed can be approached with more joy and innovation.

Overall, music can have an important role to play in modern work environments. Researchers have found that some types of music are better for workplaces than others; music without lyrics and music that incorporates the sounds of the natural world are more relaxing than music with lyrics. Familiar music is more relaxing than new music.

Letting employees choose their own musical options is likely to give you the best results. Requiring headphones, so that other employees get their own choices without interference, is probably the most customizable solution.

Have you incorporated music into your workspace or study space? What results have you seen?

View post:

8 Ways Music Affects Your Brain and Enhances Productivity - Inc.com

Music for Relaxation, Yoga, Chakras, SPA, Healing

New Music for Yoga and Meditation

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The Awakening of hte Source Harmony of the Motion

Anjey Satori - "Sounds of Nature for Relaxation" - Free Download (2 Tracks)

Anjey Satori "Healing Sounds of Tibet" - Free Download (2 Tracks)

Anjey Satori - "Classics for Relaxation" - $ 2 (CD quality) Download

Anjey Satori "Chakra Sounds" - $ 5 (CD quality) Download

Meditation Music by Anjey Satori

Sleep Under the Rain - relaxing music, meditation and soothing music, alpha, theta and delta rhythms, deep relaxation music, stress management download ...>>

Astral Journey - music for astral travel, space music, access to the astral plane, other dimensions. Relaxation music and travel to other galaxies download ...>>

Golden Dreams - relaxing soothing music, meditation music to the sound of the sea, the cries of whales and dolphins, healing, recovery forces. Can be used for massages download ...>>

Sound of Nature for Meditation - meditation music with the sounds of nature, relaxing soothing music, entrance to the meditative state, theta rhythm download ...>>

Meditative Music - music for meditation and yoga, soothing music, dive into a trance, the inner space download ...>>

Sound of Chakras - vibration to open and cleanse the chakras. The effect is similar to the technique Osho. Balancing, Harmonization, recharging energy download ...>>

Journey Into Subconscious - music for psychotherapy, self-knowledge, healing. Music therapy, reincarnation therapy, overcoming fears, the removal of energy blocks, purification download ...>>

The Best for Meditation - music for relaxation and meditation. Stopping the internal dialogue, soothing music, harmonization download ...>>

Ethnic Drums - rhythmic shamanistic music. Dynamic techniques Osho, spontaneous dance, recharging energy download ...>>

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Relaxation with Forest - the sounds of the forest, singing birds. Relaxing soothing music, recuperation, healing download ...>>

Healing Rhytms of the Earth - meditation music, healing music for the restoration of the body, cells, healing, balancing energy, charging the lower chakra - Muladhara and Svadhishthana download ...>>

Relaxation Music by Angelight

TANTRABEATS I "The Space of the Body" - emotional and "clockwork" rhythms of India. Music for Tantra, Yoga and meditation techniques of dynamic download ...>>

TANTRABEATS II "The Space of the Soul" - music is fit as for individual listening, as and as a thematic supporting background in Tantra pair practices download ...>>

Zensation "Paradise Gate" - It is possible to use this music for yoga or meditation, or to reflect over meaning of the life in a philosophical solitude download ...>>

Heavenly Angels - music for meditation and spiritual healing. Listening to this music, you find every once in their souls the angels who are always ready to help you in difficult moments of life download ...>>

Shamania - mpetuous shaman dancings and sad call of voices from the world of spirits can be heard in this music download ...>>

IntimlandPart 1 "Touch" - This music creates special atmosphere of intim and rapprochement, removing a barrier, disturbing to movement of energy of desire download ...>>

The Surf Song/ Magic Wood - music for meditation, relaxation and healing with the sounds of nature download ...>>

Music Energies 1 - the energy of life and energy of passion. Music for meditation on life's energy and passion energy download ...>>

World Music by Olexa Kabanov

Wind from the Orient - it seems that every musician on the path of self-improvement, sooner or later meets with the musical culture of the East - and imbued it download ...>>

Dale of Muses - here you will find unexpected combinations and each of them again and again will say that it - really music without borders, music for people, for everyone, regardless of nationality. download ...>>

Ambrelyre -music for polyphonic wheel lyre.Not every musician is able to breathe real life into old instruments, enable them to sound bright and deeply - not glass rhinestones and jewels. Olexa Kabanov - no doubt, is capable of. download ...>>

Ower the Waves - Music album invites us on a journey to distant countries and continents unknown download ...>>

Anjey Satori - author 14 CD's with meditation and deep relaxation music.

From his early years Anjey started interesting in mysticism and esoteric teaching of the East.

Anjey Satori - author relaxation music, meditation music, music for healing, yoga, sleep and inner travel practices. Each piece of music creates a harmonious balance of music and spirituality... read more>>

Angelight - pen name of russian composer, which was a founder of transformational direction in music. The History of his music began long before appearances of musical works. The Future composer, having music formation, not there was in creative searching for. He was in search for spiritual.

Angelight - autor more 30 CD's of relaxation music, healing, spa and employment practices of Tantra. read more>>

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