Every day, more people seek out meditative, healing experiences and are discovering the healing power of sound. Sound bathing has been in practice for thousands of years, but it’s only been in recent years that the process has been embraced by mainstream practitioners.
Are you curious about sound bathing? Keep reading to learn more about the process.
What Is a Sound Bath?
As the name suggests, a sound bath is a meditative experience that involves the use of sound. Unlike yoga classes with curated, catchy playlists, a sound bathing session includes music produced by healing instruments. While some sound bathing practitioners might sing, most use instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, gongs, tuning forks, and percussion instruments.
Sound bathing intends to wash the body in sound and balance the body’s energy. Some sound bathing sessions are done in a group setting, but many are individual sessions. The participant lies on their back or stomach during the session.
Does the Practitioner Place Hands on the Participants’ Bodies?
No, practitioners do not place their hands on the participants. Instead, they move around them playing instruments, chanting, or singing. However, during individual sessions, it’s not uncommon for the practitioner to place singing bowls on the participant’s body and play them. Sound healing practitioners should ask the participants what they’re comfortable with before the experience begins.
How Long Does a Sound Bath Last?
Most sound baths last 30-60 minutes. Some group sessions might last longer, but a longer session isn’t the goal. Participants need not carve out hours to get the benefits of a sound session.
How Does Sound Bathing Heal?
Sound bath practitioners liken sound bathing sessions to a cellular massage. The purpose of a sound therapy session is to break up stagnant energy in the body and encourage deep relaxation. Listening to meditative instruments like gongs and singing bowls is thought to lower anxiety, release tension, and reduce depressive thoughts and episodes, according to some evidence obtained by The National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Sound therapy is touted as an alternative form of healing, but its roots come from geometry and quantum physics. The purpose of sound bathing is to clear blocks from one’s energy fields. When this is achieved, people who partake in sound bathing report increased awareness, a better sense of wellbeing, deep relaxation, and in some circumstances, reduced physical pain.
People experiencing a sound bath for the first time should know that everyone has a different experience. Come to the session with an open heart and mind, leaving expectations at the door. Often, what one receives is far greater than one could’ve imagined.
Sound can be felt through vibrations of the instruments that the body absorbs for therapeutic benefits. Some possible treatments for sound healing can be anxiety, depression, clarity/focus, cellular cleansing, energy balancing, among many other ailments.
How Often Should You Schedule a Sound Bath Session?
There are the rare people in Northern Kentucky who partake in sound baths daily. Others schedule sound baths once or twice a week, while others attend sound bathing sessions monthly. The ideal number of sessions depends on the person’s goals and budget.
How Much Does Sound Bathing Cost?
The exact price varies depending on the practitioner, the type of session, and the geographical area.
