The monthly meeting of the Costa Blanca South Veterans Club took place last week at the Captain’s Table in Punta Prima, where Dr Tony Fuller, who specialises in Therapeutic Drumming, was the guest.
After a light workout with Nicola, our Jennie Wren, followed by an excellent breakfast, Tony Fuller took to the floor where he gave a brief description of the mental and physical benefits that the power of music, and percussion in particular, could offer.
Drumming has long been a tool for communication, celebration, and expression for thousands of years. He explained that, most recently, it has been gaining popularity for its positive effects in substance use disorder recovery circles. He told the group how drum therapy is meant to be a fun release of stress and anxiety in the recovery journey.
Tony further explained how, through his workshop, he would show that activities such as group drumming are fantastic for both physical and mental wellbeing. “It helps people focus on the ‘here and now’ rather than worrying about problems and issues over which they have no control,” he said. “It’s a great form of therapy to combat stress, anxiety and depression, and is the simplest thing that we can do to bring us together.”
Tony, who is the only British Percussion Therapist in Spain, together with his partner Leoni, then allocated a piece of percussion equipment to each of the 30 group members as he guided everyone through a series of exercises lasting about 40 minutes.
The equipment included items such as bongo drums, conga drums, claves, hand drums, paddle drums, maracas, rhythm sticks, shaker eggs, tambourines and much more, which participants, who were seated in a circle, were encouraged to play.
The exercises included replicating many of the everyday sounds that soothe body and soul such as a heartbeat, gradually adding to the beat while thinking about things about which you are grateful, basic things such as the sunshine, or a morning walk along the seafront. He explained that such exercises will reset your mindset by relieving anxiety and stress.
It was an experience that all of the participants were trying for the very first time, with everyone declaring they had a positive and enriching experience.
Tony will most certainly be going along to further RBL meetings in the future, where he will provide repeat and enhanced performances, in slightly smaller and rather more manageable groups. Many members of the group said that they look forward to a repeat performance.
The veterans club, which is an RBL initiative, meets o the last Tuesday morning of every month at The Captain’s Table in Punta Marina CC. More information is available from Sandie Coates by email at: sandysandy1979@outlook.com
