Sound Bathing
Sound Bathing is a healing therapy that uses soothing sounds. The person or group is bathed in the sound waves. Sound healing has been used as a remedy favored by different cultures in olden as well as modern times.
The therapy is provided by practitioners who are trained in the musical techniques used in sound baths. Soothing vibrations that overlap each other are created by the therapist, that lead you deep into a state of relaxation or contemplation, shutting down the body’s reflex of fight-or-flight. At the end of the session, the therapist will guide you back into the state of awareness, and leave you with some positive affirmations.
A sound bath is not to be confused with music therapy. Music therapy is administered by a music therapist and not by a mental health professional. Music is used as part of the healing to help the participant process complicated and difficult emotions, by playing an instrument. In sound bathing, the participant, i.e. you, will not play any instrument.
In sound therapy, sound is produced by playing different instruments such as singing bowls, gongs, percussion, chimes, tuning forks and rattles. These instruments are chosen for the deep and resonating vibrations that they create. The therapist might make select sounds such as ‘Om’ to center the person.
The intention of sound bathing is to change the energy of the participant. Balancing the energy is believed to harmonize the aura around the participant. The sound generated does not have a catchy tune or melody. It is very unlike a symphony or song, but it is a collection of carefully selected sounds. The resonance and overtones of the instruments and voice intonation renders it special and distinctive.
The reason behind not having a catchy or attractive tune is because it may distract you from the meditation, as you would focus on the music and not on yourself. The brain would get hooked on to the beat and would not let go. The purpose of sound bathing is to gain mental freedom.
As the sound waves wash over you, you feel free from stress and gradually fall into a meditative state.
During the therapy, you may be asked to lie down on your back in the ‘Savasana’ position of yoga. The sound healing expert would facilitate the whole experience, and sometimes you and the group might have to participate with mantras, chants or ‘om’s. This kind of guided experience lasts anywhere between 15 to 60 minutes.
The sound bathing therapy is considered to be a wellness therapy that can help you alter your mood. If you are feeling low or your energy level is down, getting a sound bath could be a good idea. There is some research which has found that a sound bath might release tension from your body, and improve your mood. Sound baths have a positive effect on the physical and mental pain.
Sound baths cannot be a replacement for medicines that your doctor has prescribed, but they can certainly be used as complementary therapy which is relaxing and low risk. It is a safe, no-risk therapy, and you can immerse yourself in this healing therapy without any harmful side-effects.
An analysis found that listening to Tibetan singing bowls reduced the heart rate as well as other vitals, thus reducing their anxiety levels. Analysis of sound baths in four studies found that anger, tension, distress, and confusion levels decreased in the study participants. A different study discovered that physical pain was reduced after a sound bathing session, though more research is required to confirm clinical significance.
If you have been feeling nervous, confused, anxious, angry and sad, indulging in sound bathing would help in steadying your nerves and uplifting your mood.