“Christine Stevens can introduce you to the magic, fun, and healing power of drumming. I recommend it.” -Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, author, Spontaneous Healing, Healthy Aging.

Discover the three keys to using music for spiritual practice, creative expression, and healing. In this workshop, internationally acclaimed music therapist Christine Stevens will share new research on how drumming improves health in mind, body, and spirit. Individually and in pairs, you will practice the rhythms of Life, Spirit, and the World, featured in Christine’s Healing Drum Kit published by Sounds True. You will also learn how to use drumming to facilitate students, patients, and clients. Christine will include information from her experiences in New Orleans using drumming for counselors in two hospitals, students at Loyola University, and survivors of Hurricane Katrina living in FEMA trailer parks and temporary housing in St. Bernard Parish.

Program includes participation in One Inspired Rhythm: Uniting the World in Rhythm, a Saturday night peace drum circle.

Recommended for educators, therapists, health care workers, spiritual directors, and music lovers. No prior musical experience necessary! Drums will be available or bring your own.

Recommended Materials:
The Healing Drum Kit by Christine Stevens, Sounds True. Includes 92 page guidebook, 10” hand drum, 2 CDs to guide playing-along, and deck of 27 rhythm cards.

The Art and Heart of Drum Circles, by Christine Stevens and Hal Leonard. Includes 98 page book and play-along CD.

The Art and Heart of Drum Circles, by Christine Stevens and Hal Leonard. A 1 hour 33 min DVD; includes how to facilitate drum circles, world drumming skills, and 6 play-along drum circles.

Drumming Up DIVA! Women’s empowerment play-along CD, by UpBeat Drum Circles.

DRUM! Reviving rhythms play-along CD, by UpBeat Drum Circles.

Christine Stevens, MSW, MT-BC, holds master’s degrees in both social work and music therapy. As part of a leading research team, Christine has published two scientific studies on drumming and is author of The Healing Drum Kit, The Art and Heart of Drum Circles, and two critically acclaimed CDs Drumming Up Diva, and Reviving Rhythms. Her work has been featured in Fitness Magazine, Spirituality & Health, and Yogi Times.

Extend Your Stay. We are offering a 25% housing discount for additional nights. Come early and relax before your program starts or stay an extra day or more after this program to savor your retreat experience.

Please arrive between 2 and 5pm on Friday, September 3. Program ends with lunch at 12:30pm on Monday, September 6. View Detailed Program Information.

Drumming may be the oldest form of active meditation known to humanity

What could meditation and drumming possibly have in common? I’ve been asking myself this question ever since I heard world-famous sound healing expert Jill Purce say “The purpose of sound is silence.”

First, both meditation and drumming help us get out of our heads and into our hearts. They just go about it in different ways. In meditation, placing our attention on the breath occupies the mind. In drumming, the rhythm becomes a mantra that captures our attention. You can’t drum while thinking. Both act as mind sweepers; to clear the mental space of worries and negative thought patterns.

Second, both meditation and drumming are practices that focus on remembering rather than learning. Meditative states are quite natural and simple, but not easy. Drumming is similar. Within the rhythm, we encounter remembering of heartbeats in the womb and rhythms our bodies long to express.

Third, both meditation and drumming are tools to connect with spiritual realms and the non-physical. We travel along both the silence and rhythm paths as portals into the spiritual space where we breathe deeply, relax and re-connect with the heart and soul.

But there is one difference.

Drumming just may get you there quicker. Drumming just may be bretter suited for hyper, over-active, ADHD types of people, like me! After a drum circle at the Teton Wellness Festival, a participant came up to me and shared that drumming helped her “drop in” to her meditation practice immediately.

Here are some tips on how to drum your way into silence;

Create a sacred space where you can settle in.
Prepare to drum by placing your hand over your heart. Take a deep breath. Breath into an intention for your meditation. Place your open hand on the drum and rub the drum in a circular fashion, infusing your intention into the drum.
Now you are ready to drum. Play a simple pulse, rhythm or whatever feels good to you. Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t think. You may use a play-along CD as well, like The Healing Drum Kit which includes twenty-seven play-along rhythms for specific intentions. The specific rhythm is not as important as releasing all self-criticism and allowing yourself to liberate your creative spirit.
Give yourself at least a minimum of four minutes to fall into the beat. Significant biological signs of relaxation typically occur after four minutes of drumming.
When you are ready, come to a stop by fading your drumming into silence.
Put down your drum and focus on your breath. Feel the rhythm of your breath gently drumming your body. Stay in this meditative state for as long as you desire in a sitting meditation. Complete your practice by gently returning and honoring your drum.

Christine Stevens is a music therapist, social worker, and author of the Healing Drum Kit. She has appeared on NBC, CBS and Living Better TV.