Whether you consider yourself a good singer or not, and let’s face it, most of us do, we all love a good long sing. It’s a fun and accepted part of life and a great way to communicate.

The best part is that your voice doesn’t have to be great to begin with and everyone can learn to make a happy noise. Singing is healthy and provides many benefits for the mind and body, so whether you sing in the car or in the shower, on a karaoke night in the pub or in a church choir, let it all out, sing well. and have fun.

By singing we can show deep feelings and this has an amazing release on stress levels. It relaxes us and distracts us from anything that may be depressing our spirits. In general, a singing session makes us feel much better.

The medical profession strongly believes that singing is a good form of aerobic exercise for the abdominal muscles, lungs, and blood circulation. Singing with and without music is used as therapy to treat people suffering from many types of physical, psychological or emotional illnesses or trauma, and is a common component of treatment for those who have suffered strokes that have caused speech disorders. Singing is a great aid to communication, breathing, and rhythm.

In the UK especially, it is becoming increasingly popular for older people to participate in community groups where choirs are on the agenda and they will find themselves singing anything from hymns to modern songs. Getting together to sing a good song does them a lot of good.

Take, for example, The Zimmers, the British rock group made up of forty retirees. They just released a cover of the famous chart-topping song, My Generation originally performed by The Who, and they have quickly become a global hit, their popularity spreading to the US and beyond. Originally created as part of the BBC Television documentary on how older people are treated in the UK. The results of the program have brought a whole new meaning to the word retirement for members of this group.

For many retirees, these types of singing groups are a lifesaver and they are eager to get together with their friends. Many have no family or perhaps their children and grandchildren have moved, so forging this kind of friendship with other people of similar age gives them a sense of belonging and can only improve their health. They will come together by singing well-known songs from their early life that may well awaken happy memories of youth and special moments from the past, making them feel much better about themselves. According to studies conducted in the United States, breathing, posture, voice and life expectancy have been shown to improve with singing.

So, no matter what your age is, start singing to your heart’s content and reap the benefits of good health, healing, and happiness.