In efforts to gain peace and relaxation, most people will try anything. Whether its fish filled pedicures or a trip to the Maldives, in the current state we live in, peace is becoming a first priority.
A sound bath is a tried and true meditative practice. When experienced, sound baths create superior states of relaxation, promote healing and influence self care. Read on to discover what sound baths are and what they can do for you.
What are sound baths?
Sound baths are the immersion of the human body, in sound waves. It’s a form of sound therapy, a therapy built on the use of vibrational sound interacting with cellular vibrations within the body to achieve a state of stability and peace. The sounds created during a sound bath through instruments called singing bowls and strikers, create an environment for the body to fully relax, and encourage the deepest levels of relaxation.
Sound bath ceremonies can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, with efficiency increasing with time spent. Participants lie down in a comfortable position, with eyes closed or blindfolded to heighten their sense to the produced sound. A sound practitioner will facilitate the ceremony, often setting intention before they begin gently swiping the striker around the opening of the singing bowl to create altering frequencies with different effects on the human mind, body, and overall experience.
How can sound baths help me?
The benefits of sound therapy, sound baths in particular are monumental. Due to their meditative ability, sound baths have aided in sleep disorders, anxiety, stress management and depression. Bodies that have been injured and need to heal are better able to heal in meditative states of being, and in this way sound baths encourage speedy restoration times for injuries. A *2017 study on the Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well Being compared participants before the use of a sound bath and after.
“As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood (all Ps <.001). Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation (P < .001). Feeling of spiritual well-being significantly increased across all participants (P < .001).”
Further, this study goes on to mention that,
“Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation.”
The validity of sound healing therapies are questioned as more mainstream therapies steal the show. However, recent peer reviewed research confirms the healing power of sound, specifically sound baths. It’s cited as low cost, feasible and an alternative for relaxation when compared to medicinal approaches.
Great, so where do I find one?
As the practice of sound therapy increases, so does its availability. Now, more than ever it’s easy to experience the healing power of a sound bath. Our website soundhealers.net helps you locate sound baths near you, or even virtual ceremonies if you don’t want to leave your home. We also provide up to date resources on all things related to sound therapy, as we hope to propel this form of healing into the forefronts of treatment.
If your passion for sound healing grows after experiencing the power of sound baths, we also offer resources to start your own sound healing practice and help heal others.
The healing power of sound… it’s worth a listen!
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871151/
