Let’s try something.
Sit back, close your eyes and observe five sounds around you. The rotation of the fan, the chirping of the birds, the traffic on the streets, kids playing in the park nearby or just your breathing.
There are sounds all around you that incite different emotions and feelings in you. Some can make you angry, some happy, some calm and some sad. Throughout history, we’ve seen sound and music evolve, make us feel things we never knew were possible, start revolutions and end wars. The power sound has over you is immense which is why the newest form of wellness is sound healing therapy.
What is sound healing therapy?
Sound healing therapy is one of the most sought after wellness techniques at the moment. It has been practised for thousands of years but has gained popularity only recently. Sound therapy is an Ancient Greek practice where sounds and music were used to treat ailments and even cure mental disorders. Sound is used to realign the body’s vibration, improve your mental health, emotional wellbeing and for those who believe- even ward off evil spirits through chanting.
An upbeat song can instantly make you feel energised, pumped up and happy, while a slow, sad song will open the flood gates and let you have a much needed cry. There’s a song for every mood. But sound therapy goes way beyond the lyrics of a song, it taps into the vibrations, tempo and notes of the sound to impact you and affect you in ways you didn’t think were possible.
Music or sound healing therapy is very straightforward. It is the practice of using different sounds and music to improve your overall health. You can use gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, tuning forks and even your own voice.
Science shows that sound healing can help relieve anxiety, sleeping difficulties like insomnia or broken sleep, lower your blood pressure, improve blood circulation and regulate your breathing.
Isn’t that amazing?
Sound healing therapy jargon
- A sound bath — In a sound bath is a meditative session where you are essentially ‘bathed’ in sound vibrations in extended shravasana (corpse pose). These sounds vary from healing instruments like gongs, singing bowls, percussion instruments, chimes, rattles, tuning forks and even the human voice itself.
- Gongs — The Gong is one of the oldest and powerful metamorphic and therapeutic percussion instruments. It has been used for ritual, ceremony, prayer, and meditation for aeons. Its sound is relaxing, centering, energising, transforming and healing.
- Tibetian singing bowls — these sound bowls are either metal or quartz. The bowl essentially ‘sings’ when a mallet is continuously run around its edge. The sounds and vibrations produced slow down breathing, brain waves, heart rate and produce a sense of calmness.
- Shamanic drums — shamanic drumming is a rhythmic form of drumming. It uses repetitive rhythms that begin slowly and the intensity builds up over time. The ascending tempo is to induce a range of trance states to connect with the spiritual dimension of reality.
- Vocal chanting — chanting of ‘OM’ is one of the first things they teach you in mediation. Chanting stabilises your heart rate, produces endorphins and helps you focus. Repeating the syllable ‘OM’ fosters mental clarity and connection with a higher power.
- Humming — As a regular practice humming lifts the spirits and it clears the mind and head. Humming also helps in keeping the sinus cavity clear and healthy.
- Tuning forks — tuning forks are musical instruments used to attain the proper pitch. But they also help in detecting stress fractures in bones, the vibrations send healing energy to different parts of the body.
Benefits of sound healing therapy —
Sound therapy has seen tremendous effectiveness in a range of mental, emotional and physical issues. Sound healing therapy is definitely a wellbeing trend to keep an eye out for!
Some of the most paged benefits of sound healing therapy are:
- Relief from stress, manage anxiety and panic attacks.
- Fewer and more controlled mood swings.
- Lower blood pressure levels, lower cholesterol levels, improves circulation, stabilises your heart beat and rhythm, reduces risk of strokes and heart disease.
- A form of pain management and cure for headaches.
- It improves your breathing and can alleviate respiratory issues.
- It helps you think clearly, rationally and improves overall cognition.
- It is used to improve sleep and as a treatment for insomnia.
- It boosts your confidence, organisational skills and relationship with yourself.
- It helps you feel more centred, in control and energised.
- It helps improve your relationship with others by allowing you to be more empathetic and mindful.
- It is a support system for the mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
There is scientific research to back up that the vibrations made by instruments or vocals actually interact with your body’s cells to create specific results. The way that your body reacts to certain sounds and vibrations can have a positive impact on your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Sound therapy at home —
You do not need a specialist or a visit to a sound bath to practise sound therapy. You can do it right in the comfort of your home. You can add some relaxing music, listen to a guided meditation video, enjoy a session of yoga, listen to Tibetan singing bowls, chant or even hum. Any sound that helps your soul will definitely help your body and mind.
If you do not take time to look after yourself you can never help those around you.
Remember that the energy you exude attracts the same energy towards you. Everything in the universe has a vibrational frequency and these vibrations interact with every cell in your body.
Apart from all these wonderful ways sound healing therapy can transform your life, it is also extremely relaxing, boosts your overall health and something you should really do for yourself.
If you don’t believe in the magical curative powers of music and sound healing therapy, just think about your favourite song and how it makes you feel- that is sound healing in itself. So do not consider yourself a sceptic just yet.
I say — give every experience a try, just once, if its for you great!
