What Is a Sound Bath?
There is no need to get undressed or wet for a sound bath despite its name. The practice does not have anything to do with bathing but instead uses sound and vibrations to cleanse us of stress and balance us. Sound bathing, or sound therapy, has exploded in popularity in recent years as famous figures like Kendall Jenner and Adele have shared their experiences. Although it might seem like a new wellness fad, sound therapy has been relied on for centuries by cultures worldwide to treat physical and mental ailments - all the way from Aristotle’s ancient Greece to Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.
Sound therapy is a holistic treatment that wields therapeutic-grade musical instruments to change the brainwave state. Good therapy uses tools like Himalayan singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, and drums to produce repetitive notes and differing vibrational frequencies. Individuals lie down or sit comfortably in a group session and typically receive a blanket as body temperatures naturally drop when in deep meditation. A practitioner might start a session with some introductory breathwork before beginning to play the instruments. The sound differs from traditional music because it is deconstructed and does not follow a set rhythm. As a session starts to finish, participants usually hear sounds of shakers and chimes that are slightly higher pitched to help ground them and bring them back to the present moment.
Scientifically, it works due to brainwave entrainment, which means that brainwaves naturally synchronize to the rhythm of periodic external stimuli, such as flickering lights. Through brainwave entrainment, the vibrations in a sound bath can transition individuals from a state of alertness to a relaxed space by slowing the brainwaves. This provided a wide range of benefits, such as reduced anxiety and depression and lowered blood pressure.
As sound baths provide a wide variety of physiological and psychological effects, every person will have unique experiences throughout a session. The instrument frequencies guide most participants into a state of relaxation, which can range from a trance-like state to genuine sleep. Sound therapy can also uncover issues within the subconscious, evoking intense emotions. Some participants leave a session feeling exhausted and tired, some feel revitalized and full of energy, and some feel rather emotional because they experienced an emotional release. Because the sound bath amplifies the participant’s current situation and feelings, individuals can have different experiences, whether their 1st session or 100th.
Who Is Sound Healing Good For?
To learn more about sound therapy and whether it might be beneficial for you to try it, check out HungerTV.com:
“Sound healing can be a positive experience for nearly everyone, but it’s especially helpful for those who are dealing with stress, have a difficult working life or have struggled with traditional forms of medicine. ‘You may be someone who doesn’t even realise that you are carrying any anxiety — in which case it could be an incredibly positive experience for you,’ she says. ‘It’s helpful for people who may not necessarily want to go to a psychotherapist to talk about their issues too. Sound healing here can help people identify the root cause of something without them having to talk about it.’ Farzana adds that it’s also great for those who are seeking clarity on a particular situation: ‘When you have a tidy mind, an answer you’re seeking will likely come to you.’
Farzana says that she would not recommend sound therapy for people who get sound-induced seizures or those who are bipolar and not being medicated. ‘If you’re having a one-to-one session, your practitioner will ask about your mental health, and if you’ve got a condition such as the ones I’ve mentioned you will have to have a really detailed conversation. But on the whole, if you’re dealing with anxiety or mild depression then it can absolutely help with that.’”
From Everything You Need to Know About Sound Healing — Kendall Jenner’s Favourite Wellness Practice - HungerTV
Photo Source: WIX
Do you think you would benefit from a sound bath? If you’ve already tried sound therapy, how did you feel after?
Written by Yellow Brick Road Token
April 14th, 2022