Sound Healing is an ancient practice that uses the vibrations of the human voice as well as objects that resonate — like tuning forks, gongs, and singing bowls — to go beyond relaxation and stimulate healing. It's based on the principle that all matter, including our bodies, vibrates at a natural frequency, and that stress and disease can cause these vibrations to become imbalanced.
The Core Concepts of Sound Healing
Sound healing works through two main principles:
Resonance
This is the principle that a vibrating object can cause another object to vibrate in harmony if it has a similar frequency. In sound healing, the body's cells and organs can be brought back to their healthy, resonant frequency.
Entrainment
This refers to the synchronization of two or more rhythmic cycles. In a sound healing session, the brainwaves can entrain to the frequencies of the instruments, shifting from a more active (Beta) state to a more relaxed (Alpha or Theta) state.
What to Expect in a Sound Healing Session
A sound healing session, often called a 'sound bath,' is a deeply immersive, full-body listening experience.
- Preparation: You'll typically lie down comfortably on a yoga mat with blankets and pillows.
- The Experience: The practitioner will play various instruments around you. You don't have to do anything but listen and allow the sounds to 'wash' over you.
- Common Instruments: Instruments may include Tibetan or crystal singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, chimes, and sometimes the human voice through chanting or toning.
- Sensation: You may feel physical sensations as the vibrations move through your body, or you might drift into a meditative state.