Everything You Need to Know About Sound Baths
What is sound bathing and what does history have to say about it?
A sound bath is a full body meditative experience meant to calm the mind and body. Sound healing is an ancient meditative practice that has been utilized by various civilizations throughout history, dating at least back to the ancient Egyptians who used both musical instruments as well as vowel chanting in their healing practices.
What can you expect from a session?
The practitioner uses gongs and Tibetan or crystal singing bowls to produce vibrational resonant sounds that stimulate therapeutic healing. Participants will come to the session in loose clothing as there is little to no movement involved, and either sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Many folks opt to utilize yoga mats, yoga blocks, blankets, pillows, eye pillows, aromatherapy, and more. Sound baths typically begin with a guided meditation to help you relax into the space and prepare for the experience. After this, the practitioner will strike the bowls, creating that resonant and melodic tone while participants “bathe” in the sound, allowing themselves to be fully enveloped.
What is the science behind sound healing?
As far as scientific research, sound has been pretty widely studied and evidence shows substantial benefits. Sound frequencies cause our bodily cells to vibrate at resonant frequencies, which can harmonize with the body’s natural rhythms (think heartbeat, breathing, etc.) and optimize cellular function. Sound waves have also been proven to be able to shift your brainwaves. The frequencies that we hear during a sound bath allow us to travel through the five brainwave states, which are as follows:
Delta (slowest at .5-4Hz): associated with unconsciousness and deep sleep
Theta (4-8Hz): associated with creativity, REM sleep, intuition
Alpha (8-13 Hz): associated with rest and relaxation
Beta (13-30Hz): associated with mental activity, alertness
Gamma (fastest at 30+Hz): associated with insight, problem solving, and expanded consciousness
What are the benefits?
Sound baths are long thought to have numerous positive effects on physical, mental, and emotional health. Benefits include:
decreased heart rate and blood pressure
improved mood
lowered stress and anxiety
improved sleep
regulated nervous system
increased focus and clarity
pain relief
reduced muscle tension
improved mindfulness
space for self reflection
Most people report leaving a sound bath feeling relaxed, at ease, and grounded. Regular practice can greatly improve a person's overall spiritual well-being. Even if you aren't entirely sold, just remember that anything that helps a person to relax can boost healing and reduce inflammation in the body.
What makes someone a good candidate for sound baths?
Anyone can benefit from a sound bath! A person who would find it most suitable to their needs is someone who is interested in meditation (especially in a group setting), seeking stress reduction and relaxation, and even those who deal with compromised immune systems or chronic pain*. Folks who should exercise caution and maybe even stay away from sound bathing may be those who are sensitive to noise, have hearing aids, or get headaches/migraines that are triggered by sound.
Join us tomorrow evening for a sound bath event here at Haman’s Healing Hands! Book now at this link.
*Sound baths are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. A sound bath can not be a substitute for medical care.