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. From January 2013…
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.
