Vocal toning is a form of musical improvisation wherein the singer vocalizes on open vowels. Although it is an old practice, it was not widely performed in Western cultures until relatively recently. A popular toning technique, introduced by Jonathan Goldman in 1992, relies on sustaining one pitch on an open vowel for the length of the exhale.

Heart rate variability, or HRV, is a significant measure that indicates optimal functioning. Clinicians look at HRV to determine your state of health and resilience. Greater variability in heart rate indicates flexibility, or adaptability to a changing environment and psychological conditions.

All meditation is not equal. While some styles of meditation improve mood, minimize self-talk, and promote inner exploration, focus meditation specifically helps reduce distractibility, promote mental stability, improve self-regulation, and enhance cognitive control.

Music is an emotional language that elicits imagery and feelings. The composer paints an acoustic picture, a soundscape of beauty, brutality, tension, release, soaring upliftment, and devasting grief. But what about music that doesn’t seem to speak at all?

Chronic stress can affect your sleep, making you tired. Stress-induced neural activity can contribute to wakefulness during the night, a problem because sleep is critical for cognitive and physical health (Morrison et al., 2022). Beyond serving as a period of rest, sleep is a complex process during which the brain performs critical and restorative functions.

Developing new habits requires a lot of energy. And because energy is an exhaustible resource, the brain was designed to conserve it. Trying and failing to develop new, healthier habits is stressful, but it doesn’t need to be.