We strive to create a profound sound bath experience that envelops our guests in a world of harmonic resonance, serenity and inner balance. Sound healing, a meditative practice, is generally safe for most people. In fact, it may be more accessible than other meditation methods, since it does not require strict discipline or a long learning process; all it takes is paying attention. Our team of Wellness Experts explores this therapeutic practice to give you insight into what you can expect during this transformative experience sound healing certification.
WHAT IS A SOUND BATH?
It is basically a therapeutic and meditative experience in which you “bathe” in the sounds and vibrations produced by different instruments such as gongs, tuning forks and crystal bowls. Through these sounds and vibrations, your mind enters a meditative and relaxed state. This causes healing on a mental, emotional and physical level.
During a sound bath, the state of your brain waves is altered from the normal waking state (beta) to the relaxed state (alpha), the dreaming state (theta), and even the restoring state (delta). As the mind and body relax, heart rate and blood pressure decrease and our breathing becomes deeper. It is in this state that deep healing can occur.
Therefore, a sound bath not only reduces stress and anxiety by inducing a state of relaxation, but also has physiological benefits. These include pain reduction, better sleep, elimination of toxins, and strengthening the immune system.
BENEFITS OF A SOUND BATH
Sound has been shown to have healing effects on both the mind and body. A sound bath session can cause a reduction in anxiety, tension and sadness levels, as well as a decrease in pain. Research on this topic is limited, but there have been studies indicating that a sound bath can improve your mood and release tension in the body, among other things.
It may seem like sound baths are another New Age fad, but sound therapy is as old as time, dating back more than 40,000 years. The ancient Greeks used flutes and lyres to treat digestion and mental health, Tibetans used singing bowls for more than 2,000 years for meditation purposes, and Australian Aboriginal tribes played the didgeridoo to heal the sick.
MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
Sound baths can help treat mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety.
A 2016 study of 62 adults measured their feelings before a sound bath, and again after a meditation session that included a sound bath. The researchers found that tension, anxiety, and negative moods decreased significantly after therapy.
In a 2018 study with 60 participants, 30 of them were asked to listen to music from singing bowls before undergoing surgery and the other 30 were given headphones without music.
The analysis found that heart rate and other vital signs that indicate anxiety improved in those who received the music headphones.
REDUCTION OF PHYSICAL PAIN
Participants in the 2016 study mentioned above were also asked if they felt pain, and to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 5 if they did.
Before a sound bath, these study participants tended to rate their pain higher than after. However, more research is needed to confirm whether this trend toward pain reduction would reach clinical significance.
In the 2020 review, physical symptoms such as blood pressure and heart rate also saw improvement. However, the review concluded that more research is needed to definitively say that sound bath has these effects in most people.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A SOUND BATH
Most sound bath programs last between 45 and 60 minutes. During a sound bath session with a practitioner, you lie on a yoga mat with a comfortable cushion under your head. The practitioner asks you to focus on your breathing for a few minutes to relax and then uses different instruments, such as healing bowls, tuning forks, and gongs, to produce different sounds and vibrations.
The sounds flood your mind and body and take you to a deeper state of consciousness, like during meditation. In reality, you disconnect from external stimuli and enter a state of peace and inner harmony.
Throughout the sessions, people experience a series of physical and mental sensations. The most common thing is that they fall into a deep state of relaxation. But participants have also had creative “aha” moments, shed tears, and even slept. Others may feel very little.
CAN YOU MAKE A SOUND BATH AT HOME?
You can certainly do your sound bath session at home if attending a group session isn’t practical for you. There is a lot of sound bath music available on the Internet.
Once you have selected the recorded music or session sounds you want to play, lie down comfortably. Then, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Focus on your breathing and relax, and then focus on the sounds around you. Listen and focus on the difference that is created when the sound fades away.
Keep experiencing the sounds and let them anchor you in the present. Don’t judge any sound, just observe it. If you feel panic or uneasiness, don’t react, just acknowledge the emotion. Do this for the rest of the recording while becoming aware of the space around you.
Once the recording is finished, stay silent for a minute or two, and then slowly open your eyes. Observe how your consciousness has changed.
Listening to recordings at home is a great way to enhance your meditation practice and to slow down and relax. However, there is nothing like being in the same room with the instruments and the practitioner responding to the individual or group.
CONCLUSION
A sound bath is a meditative practice that most people can safely try. A sound bath can be easier than other meditative practices because it doesn’t require a lot of discipline or patience to learn how to do it: all you have to do is listen.
Please note that sound baths are not a substitute for medication or therapy with a licensed mental health professional to treat anxiety or depression. But since relaxation is the main byproduct of this practice, it may be worth trying it as a way to recharge.