Here I take dismantle the mystery of Sound Bathing and explore the reasons why you may want to give it a go! Find me at https://www.eqyoga.co.uk/

Transcript

Vicky (00:00:10) Hi. Welcome to all Things Yoga with Vicky. A podcast about all things yoga. Hello.

We're going to do some demystifying the 'woo-woo' sounding world of sound baths. If you've never been to one, they aren't quite as strange as they may seem!

During a sound bath session. There are different instruments like singing bowls, gongs and chimes, perhaps even drums, and they're played in a way that creates soothing sounds and vibrations that generally wash over you, helping you to relax your body and also your mind. Now, because they're played gently, the sound waves resonate through the room and sometimes into your body - we'll talk about that in a moment - and it creates a very peaceful and meditative atmosphere, even for those people who aren't used to meditation in the traditional sense. So what can you expect when you attend a sound bath? Well, you're going to immerse yourself in a sensory experience. You'll usually be laying down for the session, but if that isn't accessible, you can always sit on a chair.

Vicky (00:01:12) But however you are, it's important to feel comfortable and warm. So generally people will have bolsters or pillows underneath their knees in their heads, a blanket over the top of you so that you just stay nice and comfortable. Now, the sound bath may take you on a journey of sound from singing bowls which can be placed on the body so you feel the vibrations into the whole of your being to things like cactus rain sticks and seed shakers to recreate sounds from nature. The instruments may be moved around your body or moved around the room to create different parts of that journey. You'll also expect the twinkle of chimes and the warm, soft sounds of the Sansula, a little finger piano, and perhaps even some sung mantras, what happens is you just allow yourself to be bathed in these auditory delights. Now, whilst sound baths are suitable for almost everybody, regardless of age or fitness level, there are a few conditions that if you have, you may want to skip the sound baths. Things like epilepsy, heart conditions or anything related to, finding sounds stressful or overstimulating, tinnitus, migraines triggered by noise, anything like that.

Vicky (00:02:23) Also, if you have metal plates in your body or hearing aids that might make sound uncomfortable, it's best to skip out. And additionally, if you are pregnant and in the first or third trimester, it's best to wait until after for your sound baths. Now, it's worth also noting that some people with mental health issues might found sound baths lead to a release of emotions. There's no reason not to have a sound bath, but just be aware of that so that you know what to expect. Now, if you do attend a sound bath, the benefits you might feel can be amazing. You may feel a deep sense of relaxation during and after the session. People often find that sound bathing leads to a reduced sense of stress and lowering of anxiety, and it may help to improve focus and even encourage a sense of balance and harmony within yourself as a whole. Now, while most of the benefits are generally anecdotal, there has been some research into the effects of sound breathing. In 2016, a study by Goldsby concluded that sound bath type meditation may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals.

Vicky (00:03:36) Additionally, Cotoia in 2018, said it was found that playing patients who were about to have an operation relaxing singing bowl music might be a useful strategy to manage pre-operative anxiety. Much more research is needed in this relatively new area, though. However, an interesting article in 2019 by neuroscientist and biophysicist William Softky, gives a new and interesting take on why sound baths are so popular. He sees the electronic noise pollution, and also the artificial sounds that devices that we use in modern life give out as an assault on our vibration sensitive nervous system, which becomes recalibrated. He said the solution to mental misery created by a de-calibrating sonic environment is to return to a calibrating one, such as a sound bath. Sound baths are a fantastic way to unwind, de-stress and rejuvenate your body and mind and also apparently recalibrate. So next time you need a little self-care, why not give a sound bath a try?

Remember to hit subscribe and if you'd like to contact me, you can through my website eqyoga.co.uk

Thank you so much for listening.

References

Goldsby, T.L., Goldsby, M.E., McWalters, M. and Mills, P.J. (2016). Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, [online] 22(3), pp.401–406. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587216668109.

Cotoia, A., Dibello, F., Moscatelli, F., Sciusco, A., Polito, P., Modolo, A., Gallo, C., Cibelli, G. and Cinnella, G. (2018). Effects of Tibetan Music on Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Functions in Patients Waiting for Surgery: A Randomized, Controlled Study. Anesthesiology Research and Practice, [online] 2018, p.e9683780. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9683780.

Fair Observer. (2019). The Physics and Biophysics of Sound ‘Healing’. [online] Available at: https://www.fairobserver.com/more/science/sound-baths-healing-relaxation-science-news-physics-culture-news-34891/.

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