Hi, this is Ann,I have been working with Jonathan for the last six years as his assistant. He and I have done hundreds of drumcircle events together and served thousands of people with the power of RHTYHM! We regularly get to work with all sorts of groups, preschoolers to professionals; churches to senior care facilities. I enjoy traveling around and doing big events for corporations and organizations. I love to drum and believe that it really contributes to wellness. It certainly makes me feel better!
I got into drumming when I was at a retreat that supported wellness. During this event there was a short segment in which we played drums and I was chosen to play the heart beat in the background as a story was being told. That event touched me so deeply that when I returned home from California I went on a search to find my first personal drum. In this search I found Jonathan who was infectiously enthusiastic about drumming and bringing drumming to as many communities as possible. It lifted my spirit and brought a level of wellness to myself that I had not experience before.
Since then many different personal experiences have led me to incorporate drumming into my life. Jonathan worked with me to facilitate a small and personal drumming circle in memory and celebration of my brother's life. It was perfect; allowing one to drum with both sadness, and a multitude of emotions and ultimately with joy and celebration of my brother and his life. The beat of the drum and the heart beat of my brother will always remain close to me.
On another front drumming has become an important part of my personal health. In December of 2008 I was diagnoses with Marginal Zone Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. One of the most important things for me to do was to continue drumming as much as I could. It kept me connected to what was important in my life, was an outlet for my emotions which is extremely important to release from your body because bottled up emotions only add to illness. Published research studies have shown that group drumming decreases the stressor hormone cortisol in your blood stream and also increases a very important Natural Killer white blood cells that seek out and kills certain viruses and cancer cells. I drum for my health as much as I can. Knowing that stress is a factor in most illness, drumming is something I believe can benefit everyone. If you haven't tried it you may want too very soon.
One of my most memorable experiences in drumming happened at my first professional drum circle as a facilitator after graduating from the Arthur Hull playshop in 2004. It was during a drum circle at the World Parkinson's Congress in Washington DC. I was blown away by a gentleman whose Parkinson's disease had progressed to the level that he needed a wheel chair and that his arms and hands shook constantly at rest. When the drum circle started this gentleman was able to drum in perfect beat to the rhythm that was being played in the circle without missing a beat. I would say that is pretty amazing and excited me more while increasing my enthusiasm and desire to bring drumming into the lives of as many people as possible. Drumming truly has the ability to increase the health and wellness and quality of life for those who bring it into their lives.
So even if drumming is something that you would have said yesterday was nothing that interested you, or was too loud for you, or whatever your excuse may be, kbow that there are many kinds of hand drums and can be played at just about any volume to accommodate your personal needs. I know for sure that I will be packing my drum with me when I go into the hospital for my upcoming bone marrow transplant which is going to cure my lymphoma once and for all.
So check out FunDrumRhythmCircles.com and see what drumming can do for your group. We would love to design a program to meet your specific needs.
Drum in health and wellness and fun!
Ann
