Drum circles provide support, improving emotions and feelings in people struggling with eating disorders
A drum circle is a rhythm-based event where people gather in a circle to express themselves with African drums and percussion instruments. A facilitator guides the session, encouraging and supporting people as they reconnect with their innate sense of rhythm. Inclusiveness is a core principle–people of all backgrounds, mobility, ages and skill levels (even first-time beginners) can participate.
The circle has potential to teach us about community, intergenerational learning, creativity, team building, spirituality, mentoring, wellness and respect for other cultures. It becomes a model for our world family, an opportunity to engage in this age-old activity where young and old play and celebrate together. [source: About the drum circle]
Lyle Povah has been leading a drum circle program at Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital in the In-Patient Eating Disorders Program since 2006. He has developed specific protocols for the specialized drum circle program, which he continues to expand and refine. A 2011 study of the St. Paul’s project [opens to PDF] found that eating disorder inpatients who participated in one or more drum circle interventions experienced a highly statistically significant increase in positive affect (emotions and feelings), and a highly statistically significant decrease in negative affect, after the interventions.
We speak with drum circle program facilitator Lyle Povah.
RELATED | Drumming and Health website | Study results: Drum circle program for eating disorder inpatients |
Drum Talk with Lyle Povah from The Haven on Vimeo.
