A sound bath has nothing to do with water or the need for towels, but one should offer the de-stressing and relaxation of a steamy bubble bath and mindful meditation.
Becoming popular through celebrity boostering in the past five years, the roots of a sound bath harken back to ancient Greece when flutes were used to heal patients; helping with digestion, mental health and sleep.
It’s about letting the experience wash over you through sound vibrations — sonic frequency technology — from the repetitive use of metal bowls, crystal bowls, chimes, tuning forks, gongs or drums.
The sound patterns of the singing bowls are used to help tune the nervous system as a practitioner guides you to deeper breathing and helps you get beyond any obstacles in your energy flow. A traditional sound bath experience uses different Tibetan singing bowls, an instrument that emits different sounds based on the vibrations made by a mallet. Up to 40 bowls might be used within the sound bath. Different tones and frequencies should lead you to a meditative-like state.
Sessions, which can be private or group, are also known as sound therapy, sound bowl meditation and sound healing. They are offered at various spas, wellness centers and rehabilitation facilities from Flagstaff to Prescott to Tucson but also can be done at home using, for example, YouTube videos, Sound Bath apps, asking Alexa to play sound bath music or other meditative sounds, or creating your own playlist.
If alone, the singing bowls might be placed around you or directly on your body. In a group setting, you’ll be positioned adjacent to the instructor and other participants.
Sessions can run from 20 minutes to three hours or more, but typically run 45 to 60 minutes. Participants sit or lie on their backs in yoga’s savasana position. All you need to prepare is to wear comfortable clothing; no special equipment requirement on your part.
Achieving such deep relaxation is said to improve sleep and relax muscles. For some, the experience can decrease anxiety, and for others it can be rejuvenating and invigorating.
Let the sound vibrations take you where you need to go.
