POUND® is more than just a workout. It’s a transformational experience, one that plugs people into their communities, tunes them into the rhythm of the music, and inspires humans of all ages and stages to ROCK out. In every corner of the world, we’ve seen the impact our passionate community of POUND® Pros have made. From empowering and motivating others, to raising money for good causes and bringing people together we saw something new this year when one of our POUND® Pros introduced POUND® as a therapeutic modality at the 2019 American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) National Conference!POUND® Pro Michael LimBybliw, a board-certified music therapist since 2010 with a BM degree in Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota, spearheaded this impactful initiative when he saw the difference it was making with his own clients. “POUND® has potential therapeutic benefits for the many populations that music therapists serve, due in part to the inherent connection to the beat, specificity of movement techniques, and focus on community building that develops from moving as one,” said LimBybliw. “I do believe that because POUND® uses the combination of music + movement, it has the potential to be effective when used within the clinical environment.”
For a bit of background, music therapists use musical interventions to address the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals. They promote emotional health, help patients cope with stress and boost psychological well-being and use music as a tool to relax the mind, energize the body, and help people better manage pain. Experts have long believed that rhythmic drumming can aid health by inducing a deep sense of relaxation, reducing stress, and lowering blood pressure. There is scientific support from specialists working in the neuroscience field that have studied the way rhythmic music impacts the centers of the brain that are responsible for how we process traumatic experiences, and its shown that physical, body-oriented therapies such as drumming and music therapies are key elements of best practice, that should be added to talk-based therapies. (Bet you didn’t know your weekly POUND® class doubled as a therapy session- power of Ripstix® 😉)
We are very excited to see the marriage of POUND® and music therapy as it continues to grow, and can’t wait to see more clinical therapists in upcoming POUND Pro trainings! “I envision practitioners using POUND® as a therapeutic modality by first, undergoing the POUND® Pro training program,” said LimBybliw, “then using the choreography and techniques learned to introduce their clients to new ways of moving to music – offering clients the ability to integrate structured movement and music paired with auditory, tactile, and visual cues – to achieve their goals and objectives within a therapeutic relationship, and to develop a deeper sense of togetherness within a group or community at large.”
For a bit of background, music therapists use musical interventions to address the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals. They promote emotional health, help patients cope with stress and boost psychological well-being and use music as a tool to relax the mind, energize the body, and help people better manage pain. Experts have long believed that rhythmic drumming can aid health by inducing a deep sense of relaxation, reducing stress, and lowering blood pressure. There is scientific support from specialists working in the neuroscience field that have studied the way rhythmic music impacts the centers of the brain that are responsible for how we process traumatic experiences, and its shown that physical, body-oriented therapies such as drumming and music therapies are key elements of best practice, that should be added to talk-based therapies. (Bet you didn’t know your weekly POUND® class doubled as a therapy session- power of Ripstix® 😉)
We are very excited to see the marriage of POUND® and music therapy as it continues to grow, and can’t wait to see more clinical therapists in upcoming POUND Pro trainings! “I envision practitioners using POUND® as a therapeutic modality by first, undergoing the POUND® Pro training program,” said LimBybliw, “then using the choreography and techniques learned to introduce their clients to new ways of moving to music – offering clients the ability to integrate structured movement and music paired with auditory, tactile, and visual cues – to achieve their goals and objectives within a therapeutic relationship, and to develop a deeper sense of togetherness within a group or community at large.”
For anyone interested in learning more about the AMTA and music therapy, visit American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
9 Responses
I love join pound class
Hmmm. I did not go to AMTA conference. How do I found out more about this program? Or how I can train to be a PoundPro? Think it would be a great opportunity to supplement my income. And also a great intervention for staff support (I work at a Hospice) or for grieving children and adolescents.
Hey Sheri, go ahead and click in the link in the article. It will direct you to their website!
Hi Jen Barber! Are you located in Seffner, Florida?
Hey Florida POUND Pros! Can anyone help Jen Barber?
Mike LimBybliw
Is it appropriate to request a demo here? The North Brandon Y would REALLY like to add POUND in the coming year, and I’d like to build interest with a demo on December 24th and/or January 1. Please let me know if you can help. I’ve heard from some local people – including some who might be even more interested in hearing that our Ybor location wants to add POUND, too. Let’s talk!
I taught with Sarah at the MAR Conference and was so excited to see this being offered at the national conference! Would love to see a Music Therapist Pound Pro group on FB or something so we could connect how each of us see Pound working in our clinical settings!! I really believe this is important work!
I love this! I am also a Board-Certified Music Therapist, as well as a Pound Pro, a percussionist, and a mental health counseling intern. My goal is to develop a therapeutic fitness program and Pound will definitely be a part of that. I would love to see Pound and Music Therapy come together more, and I’m still bummed I missed the National conference this year.
Way to go Mike! So proud of your dedication and hard work! So awesome sharing the power of pound with music therapists from around the country!
Hi Tim! I am a Board-Certified Music Therapist too, though I am transitioning into the School Counseling field. There are at least a few MT-BC’s/ Pound Pros in Virginia. In fact, another MT and I taught a POUND class for self care at a the MAR AMTA conference last spring. I would love to connect with you.