There’s something relaxing about a shower after a long day at work. Even if you are the type to think that mornings are the best time of day for you to shower, you’re probably starting your day off in a happy mood because of this.
And there’s a reason, according to consultant and psychological therapist Michael Padraig Acton (via Metro U.K.). When you belt out the lyrics to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” during those winter morning showers, you’re forcing yourself to practice mindful breathing, according to the expert. Mindful breathing is great for relieving anxiety, he added. “When we are belting out a tune, we simply have to breathe more deeply. This increases oxygen levels and sends a message to the brain that we are ready to calm down. Our heart rate slows, our blood pressure decreases as our blood vessels relax and we simply feel more at peace,” explained Acton.
And for those of you out there who are fans of the kind of hydrotherapy that involves hot and cold water showers during the same bathroom session, singing could help you get through the cold shower bit, per naturopathic doctor Dr. Kristen Mark. Even without hot and cold showers, combining the effects of water therapy — using the soothing effects of warm (or cold) water to relieve pain and tension — might be better complemented with the endorphin-releasing act of singing.
