Christine Stevens – Awaken Your Rhythm
Description Of Awaken Your Rhythm
Encourage whole-body healing through drumming — including stress reduction, release of negative feelings, and improved immunity.
Discover drumming as meditation — a rhythmic mantra that can engage the ‘monkey mind’ and help you fall deeply into your heart.
Ancient wisdom and science are converging on the beneficial effects of drumming on mind, body, and spirit…
For millennia, the rhythm of repetitive drum beats has been used to induce trance, to anchor healing rituals, to unite communities, and to accompany ceremony and prayer…
And now, modern research studies are showing that drumming can produce physical and emotional benefits, ranging from stress reduction to release of negative feelings to improved immunity…
What’s more, rhythm helps us “unmind” our mind — to connect to the space between beats, thoughts, or feelings. Through drumming, we can invite creativity, sacredness, and meaning into our lives.
In this 7-module journey, dedicated to finding your own unique inner rhythm under the guidance of internationally renowned author, speaker, music therapist, and drumming teacher Christine Stevens, you’ll discover how to experience drumming as a practice for connecting with your inner rhythm. (No musical experience — or even drum — is required!)
You’ll learn that we all have our own unique rhythm that — when liberated — can help us open to a spontaneous flow of creative energy and an empowering release of authentic self-expression.
You’ll also discover and experience drumming as a practice that can encourage whole-body healing. One British research study found that drumming reduces anxiety, depression, and inflammation, while also improving social resilience.
The vibrations of the drum create a healing “massage” while also boosting energy and empowering creative freedom. Through these healing rhythms, you can shift your energy and re-tune to the sacredness and beauty of merely being .
Drumming is also just plain fun, and it provides a simple activity that you can do almost anywhere without learning to read music.
What You’ll Learn In Awaken Your Rhythm
During the self-empowering and exhilarating 7 modules of this course, you’ll:
- Create your own healing rhythm for body, mind, and spirit
- Learn a drum blessing that connects you with the sacred lineage of rhythm
- Discover drum-holding positions and their divine intention
- Discover the four element sounds of earth, water, fire, and air
- Learn to release self-judgement through improvisation
- Liberate your creative voice through call-and-response and drum dialogues
- Discover the science of entrainment in what drummers call “the pocket”
- Experience the 3 keys to drumming for healing; intention, posture (mudra), and rhythm (mantra)
- Evoke healing vibration with a drum massage — for self and others
- Learn shadow drumming for emotional release
- Sing your own power song with drum accompaniment
- Learn sacred songs for blessing, greeting the day, healing, and gratitude
- And much more…
Drumming is an active form of meditation that can serve as a rhythmic mantra, engaging the monkey mind, so you can fall deeply into your heart.
In a scientific study, Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Charles Limb, MD showed how the brain changes when you improvise, turning off self-criticism and judgement, while activating authentic self-expression and meditation. The drum is one of the simplest portals to this type of spontaneous self-expression.
Studies have also shown that when we drum and sing together, we generate kindness and compassion… the beat of the drum carries our prayers and intentions into the hearts and minds of others.
Christine has observed that the drum also seems to show up when people are transforming. So, if you’re drawn to joining her for this spirituality deepening, self-expression liberating, health-boosting journey, something inside of you knows you’re ready to make a shift… and that you’re open to learning how to create healing rhythms and welcoming more joy into your life.
What You’ll Discover in These 7 Modules
In this 7-module transformational intensive, Christine will guide you through the fundamental spiritual skills and competencies you’ll need to successfully experience whole body healing through drumming, including stress reduction, chronic pain control, release of negative feelings, and improved immunity.
This course will feature teachings, training sessions, and experiential practices with Christine. Each session will build harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to use drumming as a meditation which will help you fall deeply into your heart.
Module 1: Drumming the Elements
The Great Spirit loved the drum so much, he gave everyone a heartbeat.
— Navajo saying
We are incubated in rhythm, held in the concert hall of our mother’s womb. The drum is like us — a skin stretched over a shell. Through drumming, we connect with the elements of nature and invite creativity, sacredness, and meaning into our lives. This is the lineage of rhythm. And, before entertainment and performance, drumming had a primary function for healing, community, ceremony, and prayer.
In this first module, you’re invited to join the sacred lineage of the drum by shifting your paradigm from playing the drum as “music” to making music with a drum as a spiritual practice. You’ll ride the rhythm into the inner realms — the heartbeat of your inner drum.
In this module, you’ll:
- Learn a drum blessing to connect with the sacred lineage of rhythm
- Discover drum holding positions and their divine intention
- Discover the four element sounds of earth, water, fire, and air
- Learn a Four Element Meditation for grounding, being in the flow, igniting passion, and breathing into expansion
Module 2: Finding Your Groove
Life is about rhythm. We vibrate. Our hearts are pumping blood. We are a rhythm machine, that’s what we are.
— Mickey Hart
Being in “the groove” is called being in “the pocket” by drummers. It’s the place of synchronicity and effortless flow. It happens in rhythm — and in life. The only thing that blocks it is your mind.
In a scientific study, John Hopkins researcher, Dr. Charles Limb, MD, showed how the brain changes when you improvise, turning off self-criticism and judgement, while activating self-expression and meditation.
The drum is one of the simplest portals to this type of musical self- expression.
You’ll learn how to find your groove and develop your innate rhythmic capacity through an exploration of the polarities of rhythm — straight and syncopate. You’ll also practice making tempo changes for rhythm — and life.
In this module, you’ll:
- Learn to release self-judgement through the science of improvisation
- Develop your rhythmic vocabulary through the exploration of syncopation and pulse
- Liberate your creative voice through call and response and drum dialogues
- Discover the science of entrainment in what drummers call “the pocket”
Module 3: Healing Through Rhythm
Rhythm is a means of organizing sound into specific energy formulas to harmonize the mind and body.
— Layne Redmond
Healing is defined as bringing back what is missing — being of “sound” mind, body, and spirit.
When Christine worked with survivors of the Columbine High School shooting, she invited students and parents to join together through drumming on one drum. In the unspoken energy of rhythm, there were tears of emotions no words could express, all while keeping the beat.
Researchers from the Mental Health Ministry of the United Kingdom found that drumming reduces anxiety, depression, and inflammation, while also improving social resilience. The vibrations of the drum create a healing “massage,” while also boosting energy and empowering creative freedom. Though healing rhythms, you can shift your energy and re-tune to the sacredness of beauty.
In this module, you’ll:
- Experience the 3 keys to drumming for healing; intention, posture (mudra), and rhythm (mantra)
- Evoke healing vibration with a drum massage — for self and others
- Learn shadow drumming for emotional release
- Create your own healing rhythm for body, mind, and spirit.
Module 4: Drumming Your Power Song
Music can change the world because it can change people.
— Bono
We all have a power song, the “music medicine” that inspires us and shifts our consciousness. Through the alchemy of song, we can literally take a sad song, and make it better. The drum and voice are everyone’s biological instruments.
When Christine worked in Iraq, there was a point when she no longer needed a translator… She was speaking with Kurds and Arabs through the language of the drum, playing back and forth in a call and response conversation.
Studies have shown that when we drum and sing together, we build kindness and compassion. The pulse of the drum carries our intentions through songs for prayer and affirmation.
In this module, you’ll:
- Learn a vocal practice of toning with the drum
- Learn to vocalize beats and speak the language of rhythm
- Sing your own power song with drum accompaniment
- Share and learn sacred songs for blessing, greeting the day, healing, and gratitude
Module 5: Embodying the Beat
The deep rhythms of life, pulsating, stir an ambrosia, flowing and overflowing everywhere.
— Lorin Roche
From rocking, walking, breathing, skipping, laughing, and resting, we are all vibrantly wired for rhythm. Our bodies entrain — our feet tap and our heads bob. We are walking, talking, ticking-tocking, polyrhythms.
In traditional cultures, master drummers dance just as well as they play, and in drum classes, participants often begin with movement in order to anchor the rhythm in the body.
Neuroscience has shown that rhythm ignites motor neurons and entrains our circadian and respiratory rhythms. Dr. Oliver Sacks, MD, found rhythm and dance to be effective in the rehabilitation of Parkinson’s patients. And, a study by Dr. Barry Bittman, MD, found significant improvement in cellular biology after one hour of group drumming.
In this module, you’ll:
- Explore feminine and masculine patterns of 4/4 and 6/8 — from steps to hips
- Experience authentic and subtle body practices to find your groove
- Experience the energy of rhythm qi
- Discover how rhythm is healing to your physical body
Module 6: Drumming for Meditation
I’ve been beating this drum of love for you to the tune of “See; my life depends upon my dying.”
— Rumi
Through rhythm, we unmind the mind. As Jill Purce says, “the purpose of sound is silence.” Drumming creates an active form of meditation and serves as a rhythm mantra, engaging the monkey mind so you can fall deeply into the heart. There are even ancient rhythms used specifically for trance through the practice of repetition. At some point, you lose yourself as you become one with the drum, the rhythm, and the space between the beats.
In this module, you’ll:
- Learn a rhythm mantra practice — the repetition of patterns
- Explore the polarity of rhythm and stillness by drumming your way into silence
- Experience mindfulness through drumming
- Learn an ancient trance rhythm in a 7-beat pattern
- Experience guided imagery drumming to combine drumming and visualization
Module 7: Drumming World Rhythms
The Creator wants us to drum. He wants us to corrupt the world with drum, dance, and chants. After all, we have already corrupted the world with power and greed… which hasn’t gotten us anywhere.
— Babatunde Olatunji
In this final module you’ll travel with the global passport of rhythm from Brazilian samba to African econcon, as guest instructors Frank Lazzaro, a Middle Eastern drum master, and Dramane Kone, a West African drummer from Burkina Faso, join us.
This is how we create a shift in consciousness — by imagining the world pulsing together in rhythm, the universal language of music…
In this last module, you’ll:
- Learn the rhythm of samba, a parade beat from Brazil
- Play a pol-rhythm using a simple body percussion practice
- Learn a Japanese festival rhythm that honors your ancestors
- Experience guest instructors, sharing Egyptian and West African rhythms
The Awaken Your Rhythm Bonus Collection
In addition to Christine’s transformative 7-module online course, you’ll receive these illuminating bonuses which complement the course — and deepen your understanding and transformation.
Awaken Your Inner Music Guided Audio Practice From Christine Stevens
Awaken Your Inner Music is a 22-minute guided audio practice in the four healing elements of music for self-tuning and sound healing. No prior musical experience necessary. You can tap along, dance, move, breathe, and rest.
This audio track includes 4 components:
- Rhythm for the body featuring frame drum meditation
- Melody for the heart featuring Native American flute
- Harmony for the soul featuring strumstick and voice
- Silence for the mind featuring singing bowls, chimes, and quietude
Drum! Reviving Rhythms
Full Play-Along Audio Album From Christine Stevens
Drum! Reviving Rhythms includes four play-along tracks, professionally created with a Los Angeles drum ensemble, soprano, sax, and flute. All tracks are mixed to empower your own beat through audio inspiration. No need to learn how to read music! Rejuvenate your spirit and reduce stress through drumming.
The Science of Drumming
Video Teaching With Companion PDF From Christine Stevens
Join Christine Stevens for this compelling video which highlights six areas of cutting-edge scientific research on drumming for psychoneuroimmunology and mind body medicine.
This teaching includes studies on:
- Entrainment
- Brain function
- Cellular biology and stress reduction
- Employee burnout and mood states
- Social-emotional skills for students
- Peace building for refugees and war zones
Here’s What You’ll Receive
- Seven 90-Minute Video Modules With Christine Stevens
Experience a rare opportunity to learn with speaker, author, and music therapist Christine Stevens — from the comfort of your own home. Each module includes a video teaching that guides you to discover specific skills and abilities to awaken your spiritual potential. - Seven Audio Recordings of Modules
Each module audio will be available for you in high-quality MP3 format. You can listen anytime and anywhere — on any device and at your convenience. - Seven PDF Transcripts of Modules
In addition to the high-quality videos and MP3 audios, you’ll also receive the entire module transcription in PDF format after each session is completed. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given. - Exercises and Questions for Each Modules
Between modules, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each lesson.
About Christine Stevens
Christine Stevens is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, drummer, and music therapist. Holding master’s degrees in both social work and music therapy, Christine Stevens inspires people all over the world with her message that music promotes holistic health, spirituality, and wellness. Christine Stevens taught her Shift Network courses, Awaken Your Rhythm and Awaken your Healing Rhythm, to over 1,000 students from 36 countries last year.
Christine Stevens is the author of Music Medicine, The Healing Drum Kit, and The Art and Heart of Drum Circles book and DVD. She’s recorded three play-along CDs: Reviving Rhythms, Drumming Up Spirit, and Drumming Up Diva. A leader in the music and wellness movement, Christine also serves on the editorial board of Explore: A Journal of Science and Healing.
Christine Stevens is the founder of UpBeat Drum Circles, offering training programs and online courses around the world. She’s trained facilitators and led workshops in more than 20 countries, including Iraq, Hong Kong, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, and Western Europe. Through Remo, the world’s largest drum company, Chrsitine co-created the HealthRHYTHMS evidence-based group drumming protocol, used in schools, medical centers, and veterans hospitals worldwide.
Christine’s work in Iraq was featured in the book and DVD Discover the Gift. Televised media credits include PBS, NBC, KABC-Los Angeles, KTLA – Los Angeles, Tournament of Roses Parade, London Tonight, Living Better TV, Discovery Health, and Hong Kong News. As a contributing writer, Christine’s work has been featured in Fitness magazine, Spirituality & Health, Body & Soul, Fast Company, First for Women magazine, The Oriental News, The Christian Science Monitor, US News & World Report, Yogi Times, and Natural Beauty and Health.
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