HealthRHYTHMS®
Group Empowerment Drumming
A Research-Based
Group Drumming Experience
for Health, Wellness, Connection
& Personal Expression
Using rhythm and active music-making,
HealthRHYTHMS® creates opportunities to reduce stress,
build camaraderie and support, encourage creativity and personal expression, and experience the joy of making music together.
HealthRHYTHMS Overview
WHAT IS HealthRHYTHMS®?
HealthRHYTHMS® Group Empowerment Drumming™ is a research-based Recreational Music-Making program that uses drums, percussion, rhythm, and facilitated group experiences to support health and wellness, communication, connection, creativity, and personal expression.
HealthRHYTHMS® was developed through REMO by co-founders Barry Bittman, MD, Christine Stevens, MT-BC, MSW, MA, and Karl T. Bruhn, building upon research and development in group drumming and Recreational Music-Making.
HealthRHYTHMS® IS...
Different From a Typical Drum Circle
HealthRHYTHMS® is a structured, research-based group drumming protocol shown to improve mood, increase creativity, strengthen the immune system, reduce stress on the genomic level, and more.
While it includes the joy and shared rhythm of a drum circle, the drum is used as a tool for communication and personal expression, creating an opportunity for personal growth, connection, and wellness, with the emphasis on quality of life and non-musical outcomes rather than performance.
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THE HealthRHYTHMS® PHILOSOPHY?
HealthRHYTHMS® IS
Not about inspiring successful drumming
→ it is about inspiring successful living
Not about exceptional performance
→ it is about exceptional support and personal expression
Not about teaching people to play
→ it is about giving people permission to play
Not about acquiring technique
→ it is about sharing for personal empowerment
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STRESS REDUCTION
HealthRHYTHMS® strengthened the immune system by increasing Natural Killer cell activity. This protocol also reversed multiple components of the human stress response on the genomic level, not just reducing but reversing 19 genetic switches that turn on the stress response believed responsible in the development of common diseases.
Bittman, 2001 • Bittman, 2005
EXERCISE
Drumming provides physical activity through movement, rhythm, and active participation.
SELF-EXPRESSION
Offers participants a way to communicate thoughts, feelings, and experiences beyond traditional verbal expression.
CAMARADERIE / SUPPORT
Brings people together through shared rhythm, helping create connection, belonging, mutual support, and a sense of community.
NURTURING
Creates a supportive, level playing field where participants can encourage one another, experience mutual care, and support growth.
GUIDED IMAGERY
Uses guided imagery and rhythm to encourage reflection, relaxation, creativity, and personal exploration.
SPIRITUALITY
Offers opportunities for reflection, meaning, connection, and experiences that may reach beyond the everyday.
MUSIC-MAKING
Engages participants in active, creative music-making through rhythm while stimulating attention, participation, and creative expression.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A HealthRHYTHMS® SESSION?
Each HealthRHYTHMS® experience follows a structured 10-step protocol that guides the group through connection, rhythm, personal expression, music-making, reflection, and a shared closing experience.
No musical or drumming experience is necessary.
Drums and percussion instruments are provided.
THE 10-STEP HealthRHYTHMS® PROTOCOL
1. Introduction
2. Wellness Exercise
3. Breaking the Ice
4. The ABCs of Drumming
5. Rhythmic Naming
6. Entrainment Building
7. Inspirational Beats
8. Guided Imagery Drumming
9. Wellness Exercise
10. The Finale
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THE RESEARCH BEHIND HealthRHYTHMS®
HealthRHYTHMS® grew from a body of peer-reviewed research examining stress, immune function, mood, burnout, creativity, connection, engagement, and quality of life across a variety of populations and settings.
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STRESS & IMMUNE FUNCTION — 2001
A study involving 111 participants found a statistically significant increase in Natural Killer (NK) cell activity following the group drumming protocol.
READ MORE →
GENOMIC STRESS RESPONSE — 2005
Recreational Music-Making produced significant reversal in 19 of 45 gene-expression markers associated with the stress response, compared with 6 during relaxation and 0 when the stress-induction activity continued.
READ MORE →
EMPLOYEE BURNOUT, MOOD
& TURNOVER — 2003
A six-session HealthRHYTHMS® study involving 112 long-term care employees found reduced burnout and significant improvements in mood. Economic analysis also projected a reduction in employee turnover.
READ MORE →
NURSING STUDENTS — 2004
A six-session HealthRHYTHMS® study involving 75 first-year nursing students found improvements in mood and reductions in burnout. Researchers also examined the potential impact on student retention.
READ MORE →
OLDER ADULTS — 2004
A Recreational Music-Making study involving 550 seniors found strong levels of engagement, socialization, positive mood, joy, meaningful self-expression, creativity, and bonding.
READ MORE →
CORPORATE EMPLOYEE WELLNESS — 2007
A HealthRHYTHMS® study involving 40 corporate employees found improved mood along with positive changes in stress-related biological activity and immune function.
READ MORE →
YOUTH & ADOLESCENT OUTCOMES — 2009
A six-session study using an adapted HealthRHYTHMS® protocol with 52 adolescents ages 12–18 found significant improvements in several behavioral and emotional measures, including school/work performance, anger, personal expression, empathy, and engagement.
READ MORE →
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH
Across these studies, HealthRHYTHMS® has shown significant positive results in biological, psychological, social, and quality-of-life measures.
Taken together, these findings show the value of HealthRHYTHMS® Group Empowerment Drumming as a powerful group program that can support health, wellness, connection, personal expression, and quality of life across a variety of populations and settings.
Explore the research behind HealthRHYTHMS® and learn more about these studies and their findings.
EXPLORE THE RESEARCH →
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DESIGNED FOR YOUR GROUP
HealthRHYTHMS® follows a structured 10-step protocol while allowing each experience to be thoughtfully adapted to the needs, goals, and setting of the group.
Themes, instruments, activities, and areas of emphasis can be selected to support the group while staying true to the HealthRHYTHMS®
framework.
Depending on the group, themes may include:
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Reducing stress and beating burnout
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Navigating grief, loss, and life transitions
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Team building, trust, communication, and collaboration
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Letting go and moving forward
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Finding your voice and personal expression
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Finding your own personal rhythm
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Creative goal setting
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Growing through change and new beginnings
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Growing closer to God and exploring faith — for faith-based groups
The result is an experience that is structured, meaningful, and responsive to the people in the room.
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WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM HealthRHYTHMS®
F4FAFD
HealthRHYTHMS® can be adapted
for a wide variety of groups, ages, settings, and goals.
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WORKPLACE & TEAMS
Support stress reduction, help reduce burnout, and strengthen camaraderie, communication, trust, and team connection.
EDUCATORS, STAFF & STUDENTS
Encourage creativity, personal expression, connection, positive group interaction, resilience, and stress reduction.
SENIOR LIVING, RESIDENTS & STAFF
Engage residents through rhythm, creativity, connection, personal expression, and joyful music-making. HealthRHYTHMS® can also support the staff and teams who serve them.
WELNESS & SUPPORT GROUPS
Create a supportive space for personal growth and for people navigating stress, recovery, change, life transitions, grief, loss, or other shared experiences — using rhythm and music-making to encourage connection, expression, reflection, and mutual support.
FAITH, NON-PROFIT, & COMMUNITY GROUPS
HealthRHYTHMS® can be adapted for churches, retreats, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and other gatherings, with themes designed around the purpose, goals, and needs of the group.
WHY CINDY?
Cindy St. Cyr brings decades of experience in music education, group facilitation, rhythm-based programming, and wellness to every HealthRHYTHMS® experience.
As Founder & Director of Houston Music & Wellness Center, Cindy combines professional music expertise with specialized training in HealthRHYTHMS®, Recreational Music-Making, drum circle facilitation, and wellness-based group facilitation.
Cindy St. Cyr was personally trained in HealthRHYTHMS® by co-founders neurologist Barry Bittman, MD, and board-certified music therapist Christine Stevens, MT-BC, MSW, MA, through REMO in 2010.
Her connection to the founders of HealthRHYTHMS® began four years earlier, in 2006, when Cindy studied with Dr. Bittman and HealthRHYTHMS® co-founder Karl T. Bruhn — recognized as the “Father of Music-Making and Wellness” — through Yamaha’s Clavinova Connection, a piano-based Recreational Music-Making wellness program.
Cindy began facilitating HealthRHYTHMS® programs in 2011 and has used
the protocol with a wide variety of groups and settings, including senior living communities, workplaces and teams, educators and students, wellness and
support groups, and community organizations.
Through years of facilitation, Cindy has experienced firsthand how the same HealthRHYTHMS® framework can support very different groups and needs.
Her approach stays true to the protocol while thoughtfully adapting themes, instruments, activities, and areas of emphasis to the people in the room.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
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HealthRHYTHMS® Trained Facilitator — REMO
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REMO Endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator
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Founder & Director — Houston Music & Wellness Center
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B.A. in Music, Magna Cum Laude — University of St. Thomas, Houston
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Village Music Circles facilitation training
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Beat the Odds Online Facilitation Training - Arts & Healing Initiative
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800+ Hours of Continuing Education & Professional Development in music, wellness-based music, rhythm and drum circle facilitation, group facilitation, team building, and leadership
View Cindy’s LinkedIn page to see a complete list of professional training
and continuing education courses.
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🩷PROFESSIONAL ENDORSEMENT
“Cindy brings a wealth of talent, rhythmic joy, and deep healing to her creative programs. She is the embodiment of wellness.”
— Christine Stevens, MSW, MA, MT-BC
Board-Certified Music Therapist • HealthRHYTHMS® Co-Founder •
Author of The Art and Heart of Drum Circles and Music Medicine:
The Science and Spirit of Healing Yourself with Sound
and Creator of The Healing Drum Kit
💙READY TO BRING HealthRHYTHMS
TO YOUR GROUP?
Every group has its own needs, goals, and rhythm.
Whether you are looking to support health and wellness, reduce stress, strengthen connection, encourage personal expression, or create a meaningful shared experience, HealthRHYTHMS® can be thoughtfully designed for your group while staying true to its research-based protocol.
Schedule a discovery call today to discuss your group, your goals, and the HealthRHYTHMS® experience that may be the best fit.
HealthRHYTHMS® is a registered trademark of REMO, Inc.
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HealthRHYTHMS is a research-based group drumming protocol which has demonstrated biological and pscyho-social benefits.
HealthRHYTHMS is a fun, innovative, and creative Recreational Music Program for Health and Wellness!
No experience is necessary! Drums will be provided!
HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming isn't about successful drumming, rather the drum is used as a music-making wellness tool for physical exercise, communication, creativity, self-expression, and spirituality.
It has been proven to reduce stress on the genomic level, strengthen the immune system, improve mood, reduce burnout, and is a great exercise in music-making while exercising brain activity.
The HealthRHYTHMS Protocol was developed by neurologist Barry Bittman, MD in collaboration with Remo Drum Company Remo, Inc. At the conclusion of the study of the immune system effects, Christine Stevens, MSW, MT-BC, MA, Karl Bruhn, Father of the Music-Making and Wellness, and Barry Bittman, MD worked together to develop the training program to teach the specific protocol which demonstrated a healthful biological impact. The protocol was named “HealthRHYTHMS”.
Drumming REALLY IS Good for Your Health!
Scientific Evidence-Based Elements with the
Research that Supports It!
For Articles of Research see : Research
HealthRHYTHMS Program Themes are created based on the individual needs of your group or organization.
For an example see: HealthRHYTHMS in the Workplace.
CINDY'S TRAINING WITH REMO
In 2010, Cindy became a trained HealthRHYTHMS Facilitator with REMO after being trained by world renowned Music Therapist, and Drum Circle Facilitator, Christine Stevens and Neurologist, Dr. Barry Bittman, Board Chariman, CEO and President of the Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute.
Stevens and Bittman created the HealthRHYTHMS program with REMO and did the research with seniors, staff, and caregivers, in order to bring this evidence-based health and wellness program to life.
CINDY'S EXPERIENCE
Cindy blazed the trail for Drum Circle Facilitation for Wellness with the Senior Community in the Houston Metropolitan Area. She continues to blaze the trail bringing her work into the Workplace and in Education for Team Building.
TX. With her pioneering spirit she facilitates close to 200 HealthRHYTHMS drum circles a year.
POPULATIONS SERVED
HealthRHYTHMS has proven to be a successful program in many other venues including these and more:
Wellness Groups Team Building
Health Care Workplace Wellness
Senior Communities Education - Students
Veterans Education - Staff
Recovery Groups Self Care
PROGRAMS OFFERED
HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming
See these additional links for more programs:
Drumming Programs for Healing and Groups,
Workplace Wellness, and Team Building
What is...
HealthRHYTHMS
Group Empowerment Drumming
OUR PHILOSOPHY
GROUP DRUMMING GROUP DRUMMING
IS NOT ABOUT - IS ABOUT...
Successful Drumming => Inspiring Successful Living
Exceptional Performance => Exceptional Support and Personal Expression
Teaching People to Play => Giving People Permission to Play
Acquiring Technique => Sharing for the Sake of Personal EMPOWERMENT
