Rhythm YOUniversity

Mindful Drumming for Health & Wellness Programs – Serving San Luis Obispo County, CA

Rhythm YOUniversity - Mindful Drumming for Helath & Wellness Programs - San Luis Obispo County

Facilitated by Dee DiGioia, HealthRHYTHMS® Facilitator, and founder of Mindful Kindful YOUniversity

A Rhythm “Prescription” for Holistic Health & Well-being!

Rhythm YOUniversity offers evidence-based, facilitated group drumming experiences designed to reduce stress and support emotional, social, and physical well-being.

This therapeutic rhythm and mindfulness based wellness program is grounded in the science of Remo’s HealthRHYTHMS® protocol, which integrates decades of research into the power of recreational music-making to promote holistic wellness.

Developed by a team of experts—including neurologist Dr. Barry Bittman, music therapist Christine Stevens, and Karl Bruhn, founder of the Yamaha Music & Wellness Institute—HealthRHYTHMS® combines the wellness benefits of rhythm, connection, and creative self-expression to foster both personal and group empowerment.

Our Rhythm YOUniversity program engages participants in a supportive, structured, evidence-based process that promotes nervous system regulation, emotional integration, intrapersonal awareness, and interpersonal connection.

Each experience blends rhythm with mindfulness—fostering present-moment, non-judgmental awareness—and kindfulness, inviting compassion, gentleness, and connection.

Sometimes, what needs to be expressed can’t be put into words—and that’s okay! Rhythm becomes the language of the heart. These sessions offer a non-verbal outlet for emotional processing and self-expression, gently supporting participants in accessing and integrating inner experiences without the need for spoken language.

We have a class soon to be announced for January 2026 in Arroyo Grande. I am looking for additional locations and/or sponsors!

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Rhythm YOUniversity Programs Are For Everyone:

From individuals seeking personal well-being to family members, caregivers, and professionals in the wellness and healthcare fields—Rhythm YOUniversity experiences are designed to support all who participate.

Whether in medical settings, mental health programs, senior living communities, or general wellness spaces, these rhythmic experiences foster connection, reduce stress, and nurture whole-person well-being.

- - Hospitals and Wellness Programs (including chronic illness support)

- - Oncology & Infusion Centers
  - Rehabilitation Units
  - Pediatric & Family Health Centers
  - Hospice & Palliative Care
  - Outpatient Recovery Programs
  - Mental Health & Behavioral Support Programs
  - Veteran Support

- - Senior Centers & Retirement Communities
  - and more!

Includes Support for Families and Caregivers:

Caregivers often carry invisible emotional weight. These sessions provide a shared, uplifting experience that helps participants feel grounded, connected, and seen—offering moments of relief, renewal, and resilience.

Includes Support for Healthcare Staff:

Staff support and well-being is essential in the high-demand environment of health and wellness care. Rhythm YOUniversity sessions offer a playful yet powerful pause — a chance to decompress, reduce stress, reignite joy and purpose, strengthen bonds with colleagues and the people they serve, and support mental and emotional health.

HealthRHYTHMS® research shows group recreational drumming reduces burnout and job turnover—making rhythm a valuable tool for organizational wellness.

Drumming Wellness at Adventist Heatlh - Sierra Vista SLO for staff wellness - Feb 2025 — Photo with Dee DiGioia – Drumming at Adventist Health- Sierra Vista for a special event.

The Power of Rhythm and Entrainment

Drumming engages the mind, body, and emotions in a way that supports relaxation, focus, and overall well-being. As rhythmic patterns develop, they naturally promote brainwave entrainment, gently guiding participants toward a state of balance, calm, and centered awareness.

As individuals begin to attune to the rhythm, many describe feeling more peaceful, more joyful, and more connected—both within themselves and with those around them. This goes beyond recreation—this is the power of rhythm in motion.

Entrainment is a well-documented phenomenon in which our biological rhythms begin to synchronize with external rhythms. It’s what occurs when your foot taps to a beat without conscious thought, or when a group of drummers naturally falls into a shared groove without verbal coordination.

In a group drumming setting, entrainment can lead to a sense of coherence and connection, as participants’ internal rhythms—such as heart rate and brainwave patterns—gently align. The experience often fosters a shared sense of presence, relief from tension, and a greater sense of belonging.

Many participants report feeling more grounded, uplifted, and reconnected after group drumming—often expressing that the experience taps into something deeply restorative and meaningful.

While these sessions are not a clinical intervention, they are grounded in evidence-based practices and designed to support emotional, social, and physical well-being in a safe, inclusive, and engaging way.

Brainwave entrainment is one of the ingredients of drumming wellness. — Photo – Mindful Kindful YOUniversity Drumming Circle

The Benefits of Group Drumming

Drumming is more than just fun—it has been shown to support overall well-being and is recognized as a valuable complement to conventional medical and mental health care.

Research findings for group drumming experiences includes:

- - Reduces stress and anxiety
  - Emotional release and healing
  - Emotional resilience
  - Enhances focus and mental clarity
  - Strengthens the immune system (Ex- Studies have been done that show playing drums for one hour a week raises the T-cell levels of the body to fight cancer.)
  - Provides pain relief
  - Encourages self-expression and creativity
  - Promotes a sense of connection and belonging – improves bonding
  - Supports physical coordination and motor skills
  - Reduces burnout, turnover, and drop-out rate

What’s Included in a Session:

These facilitated experiences offer empowering, engaging, and trauma-sensitive activities based on the HealthRHYTHMS evidence based protocol facilitated by Dee DiGioia, HealthRHYTHMS Facilitator and founder of Mindful Kindful YOUniversity.

- - mindfulness practices
  - rhythmic play activities
  - creative self-expression
  - guided imagery

*No experience is needed.

*Drums are provided.

CUSTOMIZABLE EXPERIENCES:

Rhythm YOUniversity sessions are accessible and adaptable for all ages, abilities, and needs. Whether it’s a one-time wellness event or a longer-term series, sessions are tailored to fit your setting and goals.

Choose your Format:

FREQUENCY:

- - - One time event
    - Limited series (e.g,. – 10 weekly classes)
    - Ongoing series (e.g., – monthly drop in )

DURATION:

- - - 60 min sessions
    - 75 min sessions (recommended)
    - 90 min sessions

Ready to experience the power of rhythm?

- - For YOU: Learn more about joining a Rhythm YOUniversity program—a pathway to holistic health and well-being through rhythm and connection.
  - For your organization: Explore how Rhythm YOUniversity can benefit your organization, community, or wellness program.

Let’s collaborate to bring the transformative power of rhythm and connection to your organization:

Are you interested in bringing Rhythm YOUniversity: Mindful Drumming for Health and Wellness to your health facility or community center?

Let’s create meaningful rhythm-based experiences that uplift, connect, and support health and well-being—for patients/clients, families, and care teams alike.

Serving San Luis Obispo County, CA

Additional Events that may be of interest:

- - “Joyful Rhythms” Community Drum Circle – Private or Public
  - Sound “Bath” Journeys for Health & Wellness – Private or Public

Contact Dee DiGioia 805-270-5523

Dee DiGioia, founder of Mindful Kindful YOUniversity, is a Certified Therapeutic Sound Practitioner, HealthRhythms® Drumming Wellness Facilitator, Mindfulness-Meditation Teacher, and Nature Connection Guide (Shinrin Yoku–Forest Bathing).

With over 40 years of training and experience in education and holistic healing arts—including extensive studies across additional healing modalities—Dee is passionate about sharing the skills and practices that became her lifeline while navigating depression, burnout, and recovery from complex trauma. By integrating simple yet powerful practices into daily life, she guides others to meet life’s challenges with greater ease and to transform their lives into harmony with their true nature.

Rooted in the Latin word universitas—meaning “whole” or “entire”—Mindful Kindful YOUniversity offers therapeutic and transformational wellness programs designed to reduce stress and support emotional, social, and physical well-being, serving individuals to entire communities and organizations. Dee weaves evidence-based practices with ancient wisdom into a holistic tapestry of sound energy, rhythmic alchemy, and mindful presence—nourishing deep inner peace, joy, resilience, and radiant well-being.

Facilitator Drumming Training:

Dee’s expertise as a Drum Circle Facilitator has been shaped through extensive training with world-renowned programs and leaders, including:

- - Village Music Circles Facilitators Intensive with Arthur Hull (2024)
  - HealthRHYTHMS with Remo (2025)
  - Beat the Odds: SEL Skill Building with Arts & Healing Initiative (2025)
  - Rhythm 2 Recovery/Resilience with Summer Lall (2023)
  - Drum Leadership Training with Jim Donovan (2023)
  - Upbeat Drum Circles with Christine Stevens (2024)
  - Certified Therapeutic Sound Practitioner (International Sound Therapy Association – ISTA) via Sacred Sound Healer One Year Program (Shift Network) (2024-2025)

Dee infuses every drum circle with intention, compassion, and heart—sharing the transformative power of rhythm to uplift individuals and strengthen communities.