What is sound healing? by Allison Bagg

From Tibetan singing bowls to Aboriginal didgeridoos, music has been used for its therapeutic effects for thousands of years. This vibrational healing technique is especially beneficial when we realize that everything is vibration. So when we begin to heal ourselves at a vibrational level, we are healing ourselves at the most basic root of existence. 

You might notice that when you listen to a very peaceful song, you also begin to feel peaceful. Music, and especially crystal bowls, have the ability to help your nervous system go from sympathetic (fight or flight) into parasympathetic (rest and relaxation). In this relaxed state, your blood pressure and heart rate drop along with your cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone, and it is said that 20 minutes of meditation can lower your cortisol more than a full night’s sleep!

Crystal bowls provide a particularly powerful and beneficial vibration because our bodies are actually made of crystal. We have a crystalline structure within our DNA that lights up when we are bathed in the beautiful pure tones of crystal bowls. Crystal bowls also help facilitate a deep state of relaxation. During our normal, waking life, we are typically in a beta brainwave state, which is active and alert. When we are a bit more relaxed, but still focused, we enter alpha. A deep, meditative state called theta is usually only accessible during 20 minutes of transcendental meditation, or even sleep states. But the vibration of crystal bowls has the ability to pull us into this theta state without us having to do anything at all. In that sense, sound-baths almost act as shortcuts or detours that take us straight to theta.

Another benefit of sound healing occurs on a cellular level. Sound travels 5 times faster in water, and since we are made mostly of water, the sound travels much faster within us, as well. The sound vibration shakes up our cells, helping to break apart those that have clumped together over time and grown sluggish and slow. By pulling the cells apart so they flow individually, we give our blood a little tune up so that everything functions at a more optimal state. In fact, there was just a study in which a group of volunteers had their fingers pricked to study their blood before and after 20 minutes of gong. In the before images, the doctor could see signs of dehydration in the cells, along with clumping of cells and small bacteria floating throughout the blood. After just 20 minutes of sound healing, the cells were plump and hydrated, no longer clumped, and the bacteria was gone. The benefits of soundbaths, and especially crystal bowls, are countless.

All these studies, and the history of this ancient practice, can attest to the powerful healing ability of this modality. But, all that really matters is that after a soundbath you leave feeling lighter, more at ease, and deeply connected to the world around you.

Allison Bagg is a retreats leader at Souljourn Yoga. Find out more about the upcoming retreat SAVASANA & SOUND: A TUSCAN SUMMER RETREAT