Have you heard of sound bathing? In today’s world, we are connected to devices from the moment we wake up to when we go to bed — but we are unable to sleep. Many of us are in a constant state of sensory overload.
The electronic frequencies we’re exposed to, and the adverse effect they are having on our nervous systems, quality of sleep and ability to focus, are becoming apparent.
We’re in the midst of an epidemic of exhaustion and techno-burnout. Could the antidote lie in the calming frequencies of rhythm and beat?
Researchers seem to think so, and studies now indicate that sound bathing may restore our frazzled nervous systems.
“A sound bath can take your brain waves to a theta state associated with deep relaxation and creativity essential for wellbeing,” says practitioner Sally Phillips, who runs sound bathing sessions in Sydney’s Bondi Pavillion.
For millennia, humans lived in harmony with nature, but modern life has stripped us of the opportunities to listen to organic frequencies.”
“We’ve evolved hearing nature’s sounds and not fully considered the consequences of removing ourselves from them,” says Sally. “We know the sound of waves lapping onto a sandy shore has a calming effect and can put people to sleep, but this is only a fraction of what’s possible.”
These sounds, with their natural frequencies, not only soothe but aim to have a healing effect on the body. Breathing deepens, heart rates slow, and endorphins and serotonin are released.
A recent study into the impact of singing bowl meditation on mood and heart rate found positive changes in its participants. A reduction in tension, anger, fatigue, depression and confusion was also observed. Sound bathing draws on the ancient and healing properties of sound and music.
So what happens in a sound bath session? At Sally’s studio, participants bathe in gentle tones from the instruments she has collected from around the world — crystal and Tibetan bowls, Japanese Kochi chimes, tuning forks, nut rattles, a sound wave, Tibetan cymbal bells, and a Paiste gong. The sound from each instrument travels into the body and works at the cellular level to help release energy blockages.
Sally’s signature sound baths are also interwoven with guided meditation through the primary chakra centres. This provides the opportunity for inner connection and personal process work.
Meditation also helps participants to become more present and connected to their surroundings. With each session, Sally aims to enable participants to feel the positive effects of the sounds — physically, emotionally and spiritually. Some even find it helps to improve sleep and relieve pain.
There is no prescribed length for a sound bath. Some people find 30 minutes sufficient, while other sound baths go for hours in a fully immersive experience.
It can take a few hours after a sound bath to feel the effects, but everyone’s experience is unique. This is why it’s important to give yourself the time and space, and not rush to plug back into devices and electronics.
“It takes a leap of faith to go and lie in a room with no other goal than to listen,” says Sally. “The trick is whether you can hear and feel the effect of sound. It has magical properties we’re only beginning to understand.”
