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RhythmWellness is a form of Recreational Music Making that removes the challenging learning curve by using accessible percussion instruments, creating a fulfilling experience for everyone. 

Everyone can play because it requires no training to create exuberant and expressive sounds, plus it's Fun!

RhythmWellness immerses people in an interactive, creative group process that connects and synergizes, leaving the temporary divisions behind.   

    "Recreatio" means to restore health.

RhythmWellness  plays a vital role in the healthy development and maintenance of culture and community because it involves participatory rhythm and drumming. 

One of rhythm's greatest gifts is its age-old ability to flow across many boundaries, fostering unity, connectedness, healthy diversity, understanding and appreciation. 



Group Drumming and Recreational Music Making is an incredible unifying activity that brings the best out in people.

BIO;   Billy Knutson started in the health and fitness industry 25 years ago and founded Functional Fysical Fitness inc, a Total Wellness Company in 1998. He combines a wide variety of studies and experience aimed at the integration of the whole person and community. He is a Certified Personal Trainer, Lifestyle Coach and Drum Circle Facilitator. 
    Billy discovered the power of group rhythm and drumming in 2005 and since that time has immersed himself in variety of musical and drumming studies, for the individual and groups. He has completed Remo’s renown Health Rhythms program, and is in his fifth year certification program with Village Music Circles, as well as studying regularly with professional drummers from West Africa, Uruguay and Cuba.     
    He combines his experience and enthusiasm in health and wellness to his RhythmWellness business and Playshops.

           "If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." - Abraham Maslo


RESEARCH
There are many roads to wellness, and with the health benefits of Group Drumming and Recreational Music Making having been demonstrated in numerous scientific studies, they are becoming valuable 'tools'. We've posted a few examples here:

Reverses Stress on the Genomic Level
Recreational Music Making Modulates the Human Stress Response: A Preliminary Indivdualized Gene Expression Strategy (2005)
A groundbreaking study published in the Medical Science Monitor showing for the first time that playing a musical instrument can reverse multiple components of the human stress response on the genomic level. Visit http://www.mind-body.org/rmm.html and http://www.medscimonit.com/abstracted.php?level=5&icid=14140 for additional information.

Retains Students: Mood Improvement & Burnout Reduction
Recreational Music Making: An Integrative Group Intervention for Reducing Burnout and Improving Mood States in First Year Associate Degree Nursing Students (2004)
This study found that group Recreational Music Making significantly reduced burnout and improved mood states among students, with projections for reductions in dropout rates, and potential savings to hospitals and schools billions of dollars annually.

Improves Mood States and Reduces Burnout
Recreational Music Making: A Cost-Effective Group Interdisciplinary Strategy for Reducing Burnout and Imporving Mood States in Long-Term Care Workers (2003)
Researchers found that a specific Recreational Music Making program drastically reduced employee burnout and mood disturbances with huge projected economic benefits for the long-term care industry. Visit www.remo.com/portal/pages/health_rhythms/index.html for additional information 

Strengthens the Immune System
Composite Effects of Group Drumming Music Therapy on Modulation of Neuroendocrine-Immune Parameters in Normal Subjects (2001)
A study involving a diverse group of 111 randomly selected people showed that group drumming activities boosted the immune system and reduced stress levels.

The Healing Power of the Drum
Is an authoritative yet easy to read book that shows how everyone can achieve health benefits from the increasingly popular activity of hand drumming. It raises awareness of how the hand drum can be used to attain psychological, physiological and spiritual well-being. http://stress-solutions.com/products.htm

                              "Facilitating Healthy Rhythms"


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