We all know that feeling…you hear a song from your past and suddenly you're transported back to that time in your life. Or a slow, heartfelt ballad comes on and you can't help but tear up. Music is powerful like that. It’s unwaveringly nostalgic, whether that be for positive or negative experiences, having the ability to evoke strong emotions and memories. The intro of that song can have you reliving a break-up or laughing about that work social. But did you know that music can also have physical effects on your body too? That's right, music arousal can affect you in more ways than one!
Let's take a closer look at how music arousal works and some of the different ways it can impact you. We’ll also cover the positive impact that combining these findings can have with experiencing a body-to-body massage. A good starting point is understanding what music arousal is in the first place…
What is Music Arousal?
Music arousal is the physiological and psychological response to music. This response can be positive or negative, depending on the type of music being played and the person's personal reaction to it. When we experience music arousal, our heart rate and blood pressure increase, our breathing becomes shallower, and our skin begins to flush. In short, we get revved up! This response is due to the release of adrenalin, dopamine, and stimulation of oxytocin - a hormone related to positive, happy feelings, along with other hormones all contributing to the large importance of the health benefits of listening to music. The Dopamine that’s released when listening to music is involved in two primary functions: rhythm and anticipation or pleasure.
So, it’s fair to say that musical pleasure involves the brain’s reward system, and dopamine is a key neurotransmitter to such a reward system, having been linked to the pleasure associated with vast physiological and psychological rewards. Think back for a second to those moments during sexual intercourse, where you’ve felt sky-high, or those moments you’ve gambled, albeit in small amounts, and felt a shock of adrenaline, that first bite of your favourite chocolate bar after a long day of craving sugar, or even a laugh right from the stomach with your best friends - all of these moments involve the brain’s heavy release of dopamine. Music creates this very same release without you needing to do anything other than listen…
Have you ever felt really low and decided to put on some upbeat tunes and somehow felt ok again? Or better yet, have you ever danced the night away and totally forgotten about your sprained ankle, bad stomach, headache, flu, or another injury or illness that’s usually held you back? The science behind this is found in opioids, which are the body’s natural painkiller. These opioids are released during music listening and are essential to the peace and relaxation that we feel from the music.
Some of the Different Ways Music Arousal Can Affect You
There are several different ways that music arousal can profoundly affect you, both physically and emotionally. Physically, music arousal can cause increased heart rate, perspiration, and even goosebumps! Many argue that it increases our pain tolerance and develops short-term strength; we all know that feeling of hitting our highest personal best in the gym and putting it down to Rihanna or Beyonce, providing the sweaty soundtrack to our mission.
Emotionally meanwhile, music arousal can cause feelings of happiness, sadness, nostalgia, anger, or even fear. Basically, any emotion that you feel on a day-to-day basis can be heightened by exposure to music. In addition to these physical and emotional responses, music arousal can also impact your cognitive abilities. For example, one study found that listening to fast-paced music improved reaction time and task accuracy. So if you're looking to boost your productivity, try putting on some upbeat tunes!
How Is This Experience Elevated?
Knowing the impact that music can have on us physically and emotionally begs the question: how can we elevate our physical experience through music?
We already know that slow, relaxing music can lower our heart rate and blood pressure, while fast, adrenaline-pumping music can increase them. Music can also affect our breathing rate and muscle tension. So if you're looking to wind down after a long day, consider putting on some calming tunes. Or if you're working out and trying to get pumped up, queue up your favorite pump-up playlist!
But there’s a new musically arousing experience on the block, and it would even have jenny relax and unwind in ways she never has before! Having the best deep body-to-body massage in London with high-quality massage oils to heighten the pleasure, coupled with listening to calming high frequencies vibrations: name a better duo…we’ll wait!
Established in 2012, London Tantric has been combining deep nude massages with sonic experience for many years. As well as stimulating the skin and muscle, their body-to-body tantric experience stimulates and engages with your inner sexuality and spirituality. World-class, talented tantric masseuses use their whole body to offer overwhelming pleasures that you simply cannot experience with less advanced techniques, all whilst hearing the beautiful sounds of calming, relaxing, high-frequency music, so that you get your dopamine hit in more ways than one, simultaneously, for that unmatched body and mind experience.
Studies have shown that listening to enjoyable music can lead to reductions in stress hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate. Combining this with a skilled masseuse gliding effortlessly over your skin in a slow rhythmic manner, tantalising every inch of your body, could well be described as a match in heaven. Did you also know that music has been shown to boost immunity by increasing the production of antibodies and white blood cells? So not only is this pleasured experience your vice after a stressful working week, but it also boosts your immunity too; something we could have all done with during a pandemic!
From enhancing our moods and connecting us with others to improving our physical health, there are many potential benefits associated with music arousal, especially when combined with body-to-body massage. However, it's important to be aware that there are also some potential risks involved with letting ourselves get too caught up in the moment of certain types of music. So whether you're looking to boost your energy levels or wind down for bedtime, make sure you choose your tunes wisely.
