Practicing humming can be a super fun activity in class!
- Use it as a break from work to relax and refocus.
- Try humming in groups to create a calming atmosphere.
- Turn it into a game: hum a song and have everyone guess what it is!
5 of Diamonds
Power of a Hum
Easy Level
It might seem a bit funny, but
humming can actually help you feel less stressed and more relaxed.
Just like the gentle sounds made by hummingbirds or bees, humming can be calming. So go ahead and hum away!
- Close your mouth, with your lips shut and relaxed
- Take a deep breath, fill your lungs with air!
- Make a sound, gently push the air out while keeping your lips closed. Almost like you are trying to say ‘AHH’ but keeping your mouth closed!
- You should feel a vibration in your mouth and nose
- Try changing the pitch, make the sound higher or lower by tightening or relaxing your throat, like you are singing!
Have a go humming along to your favourite song or make up your own tune.
You may enjoy humming to your favourite tune or just do a long-extended hum. This helps reduce stress. It is a great one if you are feeling anxious or worried about something. Can you feel the vibrations it makes?
Researchers in India found that humming can reduce stress and increase the feeling of calmness in the body, by deactivating parts of the brain that are involved in emotions related to stress.1
Small changes CAN make a big difference – that’s what the 1% Kids’ Club is all about.
Click on the links below to find out more about this superpower!
Why not give humming a go as a part of their bedtime routine? Could try humming a nursery rhyme or their favourite lullaby.
- Kalyani, B.G., Venkatasubramanian, G., Arasappa, R., Rao, N.P., Kalmady, S.V., Behere, R.V., Rao, H., Vasudev, M.K. and Gangadhar, B.N. (2011). Neurohemodynamic correlates of ‘OM’ chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study. International Journal of Yoga, [online] 4(1), pp.3–6.
doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.78171.