SINGING THE COVID STRESS AWAY
THE PANDEMIC HAS TRIGGERED
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND FEAR IN PEOPLE
ACROSS ALL AGES. BUT SOME ARE FINDING
SOLACE IN SOUND THERAPY
Recently, Kendall Jenner shared a video of herself sitting on the floor in a dimly lit room conducting a DIY sound bath, an ancient healing practice that uses sound therapy to promote healing and relaxation. In the clip, Jenner runs a mallet counter-clockwise along the rim of a crystal singing bowl. “For you. Close your eyes and breathe,” Jenner captioned her post. She finished off the post with a quick note: “i’m not an expert! just vibrating and growing (sic).”
Last year, the Global Council on Brain Health, an independent science and policy collaborative devoted to understanding brain health, released a report. While making recommendations for future study, it concluded that music has “significant potential to enhance brain health and well-being for individuals of different ages and different levels of health”.
Neuroscientist and Ayurveda expert Dr Kulreet Chaudhary spoke to us about how different types of sound impact the human body and brain uniquely. Talking about the physiological effects of sound vibrations, which range from altering mood to healing disease, the doctor who is also the author of Sound Medicine further explains, “Sound has the ability to make a tremendous impact on our cells, boost our mood
and even heal diseases. Ancient Ayurveda texts use specific mantras to explain sound as frequencies and the therapeutic applications of these frequencies on common ailments.
Bringing together ancient mantras and modern neuroscience can help heal and keep you well in body, mind and spirit.”
SACRED BOWLS HAVE BEEN USED BY THE MONKS IN THE MONASTERIES OF TIBET TO INDUCE PEACE AND CALMING EFFECT. EVEN FENG SHUI PRACTITIONERS USE THE TIBETAN BOWLS TO HEAL SPACE, BOTH AT HOME AND OFFICE — INSEEYA K, Reiki and Feng
Shui practitioner
SOUND HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR CELLS, BOOST OUR MOOD AND EVEN HEAL DISEASES
— DR KULREET CHAUDHARY,
“A human body is made of 80% water, and water is a conductor of sound. When the sound travels through the body, it promotes circulation and energy flow, and balances the person’s Chi (energy). Chi is the Chinese word for (life). Many external factors in a person’s life disturb the inner Chi of a person, which can cause agitation, stress, depression, insomnia etc. The sound waves shift the frequencies from low energy to high vibrations of love and happiness. To achieve this alpha state a person has to be in a meditative state of acceptance. This state of silence will allow the sound vibrations of the Tibetan bowls to balance and restore the Chi of the person,” elaborates Inseeya
WHY IS MUSIC SO CAPTIVATING?
Kamakshi and Vishala Khurana, cofounders of The Sound Space, are on a journey into the phenomenal world of sound. Along with the miraculous power to heal, they believe sound has the capacity to influence every aspect of a human being from its conception.
“We believe that overall, music therapy helps increase lung capacity. If there is any phlegm or any mucus filled in the lungs and sinuses, it helps release these and makes the patient more comfortable. Because COVID-19 causes a lot of congestion, this kind of therapy is very helpful,” say Kamakshi and Vishala. “Chanting helps regularise the heart rate, which in turn helps the body reach a state of calm to cope with the healing process and after effects of the medication.”
ANAHATA
CHAKRA
Focusing on the Anahata chakra apparently helps with healing any emotional trauma and soothing emotions.
“Various vocal exercises in addition to using the power of sound and frequency to heal the chakras can help in coping with the effects of the illness. Besides helping patients to de-stress after the illness, it helps alleviate exhaustion caused by this illness and helps them relax,” adds Kamakshi. Additionally, Vishala adds that the above combination also helps increase the breathing capacity as well as the immunity of the body over a period. “Each session is segmented into different parts that include active listening and participation,” adds Vishala.
prana
Neuroscientist and Ayurveda expert
TIBETAN BOWLS HEALING
Sound healing has been prevalent for thousands of years. Music is healing. Many of us have even experienced how our favourite song can lift our mood immediately.
According to Inseeya K, Reiki and Feng Shui practitioner, one of the new-age wellness therapies is the Tibetan bowls healing. “Sacred bowls have been used by the monks in the monasteries of Tibet to induce peace and calming effect,” she explains. “Even Feng Shui practitioners use the Tibetan bowls to heal space, both at home and office.” Tibetan bowls come in different sizes. With much research done on the benefits of sound healing, the Tibetan bowls therapy practitioners nowadays use it to heal patients of their physical and mental ailments.
SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Tibetan bowls create a soothing sound that synchronises with the brain waves creating a profound relaxation in the person.
“A human body is made of 80% water, and water is a conductor of sound. When the sound travels through the body, it promotes circulation and energy flow, and balances the person’s Chi (energy). Chi is the Chinese word for prana (life). Many external factors in a person’s life disturb the inner Chi of a person, which can cause agitation, stress, depression, insomnia etc.,” elaborates Inseeya. “The sound waves shift the frequencies from low energy to high vibrations of love and happiness. To achieve this alpha state a person has to be in a meditative state of acceptance. This state of silence will allow the sound vibrations of the Tibetan bowls to balance and restore the Chi of the person.” Perhaps then, creating sound healing with your own Tibetan bowls at home does bring immense peace while removing negative disturbances at home — something most of us have been experiencing since the pandemic.