What is SOUND BATHING?
Immersing yourself in sound has some surprisingly strong health benefits
Gwyneth Paltrow’s a fan and so are Charlize Theron and Robert Downey Jr – Kim Kardashian even held one for guests at her baby shower for her son Psalm, now 11 months, last year. But just what is sound bathing, and why is Hollywood’s A-list rushing to try it?
“Sound bathing is a practice where a teacher uses different instruments (usually a combination of singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs and shamanic drumming) to create sound waves that emit vibrations that you can hear and feel,” explains Luke McLeod, meditation instructor and founder of Soul Alive (soulalive.com.au). “These vibrations raise the frequency within your body, which relaxes you and calms the mind.”
You’ll usually be sitting comfortably on a cushion or lying down on a yoga mat during a sound bathing session.
THE GIFT OF SOUND
Similar to meditation, sound baths have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. “There is new research coming out now about how sound baths are being used to treat illnesses, diseases and even cancer by monitoring the change in the vibration within our cells,” says Luke.
As far back as the 19th century, researchers proved that music could lower blood pressure, decrease pulse rate and assist the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for digestion and some parts of the metabolism. According to The New York
Times, recent research by a psychologist reported that singing bowl sound meditation was helpful in reducing tension, depression symptoms, fatigue and anger in a group of 62 adults.
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“Your local yoga studio may offer [sound bathing sessions],” says Luke. “We are now also using sound healing as an essential part of the meditation class we offer at Soul Alive, too.”
If you want to try it first at home, Luke suggests looking up and listening to sound baths on YouTube or look for online services similar to soulalive. com.au that have weekly classes you can do from the comfort of your couch.