by
Dr Rahul Joshi
Soothing music and a powerful melodious voice catch you unawares in the bustling Walkeshwar Road in South Mumbai. Curiosity makes you look around to try and locate the source and when you see the sign placed above the door behind which the tunes filter through, you cannot help but be surprised. The music is emanating from a doctor’s clinic. It is Dr Rahul Joshi’s Music Clinic.
Dr Joshi is attached to many prestigious medical establishments like L&T Health Centre, Saifee Hospital, Mumbadevi Hospital, Police Hospital and Elizabeth Hospital. He is Honorary Homeopath to the Governor of Maharashtra and is a Platoon Commander of Home guards.Trained in Indian Classical music for over 15 years under maestros, he is as well-known as a singer as he is as a doctor. His concerts and performances draw in big crowds who look forward to his voice that makes many forget their troubles-physical or emotional.
“There are many illnesses beyond the purview of medical science. Many of my patients attend my concerts. When people come up to me later and tell me how much they enjoyed themselves and how my music calms them down and gives them an unexplained sense of delight from within, I realize how music is a powerful tool for healing, ” says Dr Joshi.
Dr Joshi explains how music is a part of our very being and life. Every phenomenon of nature has a rhythm to it. Our very bodies move and work to a steady rhythm and music.He says, “One cannot separate music from life. Seeing the joy that people get from my concerts and how it makes them forget their ailments, I decided to further explore music’s capacity to extend happiness.”
Thus, started the concept of a Music Clinic 6 years ago.Dr Joshi makes it clear that he is not exploring music therapy for which proper and substantial research need to be done. What he believes is that around 80% of our diseases today are mind-related….and what better way to heal than music which is so powerful that it can fight a host of illnesses.
His music clinic aspires to make people be aware of and be in sync with the universal music that pervades in every part of nature and life.
His clinic explains the 7 chakras of our body and how these chakras can be stimulated by the 7 swara -Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni
Dr Joshi elaborates on the music clinic’s 7 philosophies, which are based on the chakras.
The 1st chakra is Root or Muladhara chakra and the clinic’s concept is happiness. A happy person is a healthy one. Circumstances might not always be according to our preference but that should not be a reason to deprive ourselves of our inner happiness.
The 2nd chakra is the Sacral or Swadhishthana chakra and the concept is creativity. Creativity and Enthusiasm to face life go a long way to keep the child in us alive and keep us ready for anything.
The 3rd chakra is the Solar Plexusor Manipura chakra and concept is Willpower. Empowering our mind can fight depression, anxiety, fear etc. Dr Joshi tells us how most stomach ailments are related to weak will and by strengthening it, we can get relief from such disorders.
The 4th chakra is the Heart or Anahata chakra and concept is Love. By having unconditional love, bearing no resentment inside us and having the power to forgive, we can rid ourselves of heart problems, obesity etc.
The 5th chakra is the Throat or Vishuddha chakra and concept is Character. By developing in us qualities that make a strong and reliable character, we pave the way to a problem-free thyroid, throat, neck etc.
The 6th chakra is the Forehead or Ajna chakra and concept is on Focus. The ability to keep ourselves aware and in focus of our life is essential for inner and outer health. People should imagine what they want and believe that they have achieved it.
The final and 7th chakra is the Crown or Sahasrara chakra and concept is of Godliness. Its ultimate goal is to come closer to God who resides within us.
Dr Joshi’s explanation of the 7 philosophies is interspersed with soulful rendition of different Raaga and songs that beautifully capture the spirit of all the concepts.
This charismatic doctor who holds an MA in Music is an eloquent speaker. The effectiveness of both his medicines as well as music clinic’s philosophy makes him popular with his patients and he is also often invited to conduct workshops in prisons, mental asylums, old age homes etc. for the benefit of the inmates.
When prodded on about music’s power to cure, he candidly replies, “There are no miracle cures. People who make tall claims about miraculous medicines are fake. What music clinic does is simply make people realize their inner-self better and react to situations positively. It creates positive vibrations and makes us work towards goals. This change in attitude is what heals.”
He often hands out his patients music that would stimulate their chakras. By following his concepts and music, many have reported a gradual improvement in health. Pregnancy is one area where it has shown good effect, resulting in better and more relaxed pregnancy from conception until childbirth.
Another area, says Dr Joshi, is pain-management. “Medicines are given to the best of our knowledge and capacity but the patients still have pain. Here, we make them listen to some music for pain management whereby they have some distraction and feel better. One thing I have found is that more than the type of music, it is the choice of music. I ask my patients what they like to hear, which singers they like and ask them to listen to what they like. I make some of my patients listen to soft soothing instrumental music in ICU as well.”
He adds with a smile,“I have heard that some western symphonies are good for healing but frankly, being from an Indian classical music background, I prefer our Indian music and the purity of the raaga and swara, rather than a Beethoven or a Mozart. It would take a lifetime to know Indian music, so let me explore this first and then move to Western!”
Indeed, one can safely say Dr Rahul Joshi is one doctor whom patients look forward to visit and come back happy with a prescription of… their favorite songs.