Sound Therapy

As a fitness nurse working with clients with chronic illness, I pride myself in caring for my clients as a whole. This means not only looking at the disease process and outcomes, but deep diving into sleep, stress, movement, nutrition and spirituality. For all of these components play a vital role in how we move through life with a chronic illness. I am always looking for more holistic approaches to incorporate into my toolbox. Sound therapy has been such an amazing journey. I am excited to have finished my level one sound healer certification. I wanted to take some time and just give some beginner information about singing bowls that I learned during my certification class. 

Singing bowls are ancient, sacred instruments traditionally made of metal or crystal, known for their soothing, resonant sounds. These bowls are often used in meditation, healing practices, and sound therapy due to their powerful vibrations and calming qualities. When struck or played with a mallet, singing bowls produce harmonic overtones that are believed to align the body's energy, bringing balance and peace to the mind and spirit. The bowl's sound is not just a pleasant auditory experience but a deep, resonant vibration that is said to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. 

History: 

The origins of singing bowls trace back to ancient civilizations, particularly in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, India, and Tibet. Although their exact historical roots remain somewhat mysterious, singing bowls are often associated with Buddhist practices, where they were used for rituals and meditation. It is widely believed that the bowls were made by skilled artisans who crafted them with specific metals, often a combination of copper, tin, iron and gold, to produce the right vibrations and harmonic frequencies. Over time, the art of making singing bowls spread across Asia, reaching other parts of the world, including China and Japan. In Tibetan Buddhism, the sound of the bowls was thought to represent the voice of the Buddha, symbolizing harmony and balance in the universe. Singing bowls were traditionally used in spiritual ceremonies and healing practices. The sound vibrations were believed to facilitate spiritual awakening and physical healing, allowing practitioners to connect deeply with their inner selves. 

Benefits:

Singing bowls offer a range of benefits, The sound frequencies emitted by the bowls are said to help reduce stress, anxiety, and mental clutter, producing a calming effect on the mind and body. The vibrations can have a therapeutic effect, working on the body's energy centers (chakras) to restore balance and promote healing.

Physically, the vibrations of the singing bowls can stimulate blood circulation and reduce muscle tension. This makes them an effective tool for those experiencing physical stress or discomfort. Sound waves stimulate brain activity to shift from beta (alert) into alpha and theta (relaxation and meditation) this happens by entrainment where a lesser vibrating frequency (our body) takes on the frequency of a greater vibrating frequency (the singing bowl). 

Emotionally, singing bowls are said to promote a sense of inner peace, grounding, and mental clarity. Their calming effect can help reduce feelings of overwhelm, anger, and frustration, allowing the user to reconnect with themselves in a deeply restorative way. Some people find the bowls can help them process emotions, as the resonant sound and vibrations create an environment conducive to emotional release and healing. According to a study by NIH, linked below "Sound healing can help you process and release stuck emotions by calming the amygdala, the brains fear center. It can also decrease production of cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase feel good chemical like serotonin, and dopamine."

Types of Singing Bowls:

There are two primary types of singing bowls: Tibetan and crystal singing bowls. Tibetan singing bowls are traditionally made of a blend of metals including copper, tin, iron and other alloys. These bowls are crafted by hand, as artisans carefully shape and tune each bowl. Tibetan bowls are known for their deep, rich tones and the warm vibrations they produce. They are considered more traditional, earthy sounds. Crystal singing bowls (like the ones pictured above) are made from high-purity quartz crystal, often infused with minerals to enhance their tonal qualities. They are known for their ability to produce clear, angelic tones that are both soothing and energizing, Unlike Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls are often tunes to specific frequencies that correspond to the seven chakras, offering targeted healing properties. Both types of bowls are available in different sizes, with each size producing a distinct pitch or frequency. Larger bowls tend to produce lower, deeper sounds, while the smaller bowls produce higher-pitched tones. 

Understanding the basics of sound and vibrations:

Sound and vibration are fundamental to how we perceive the world around us. At the most basic level, sound is a form of energy that travels through the air (or other mediums like water or solid objects) as vibrations. These vibrations create pressure waves that reach our ears and are interpreted by our brain as sound. When we think about sound, we typically envision it as an auditory experience, but it is deeply tied to physical vibrations that can influence both the mind and body. 

Vibrations occur when an object moves back and forth or oscillates. These movements create waves in the surrounding medium, which in turn transmit the energy. The frequency of these vibrations- how fast or slow the oscillations occur- determine the pitch of the sound we hear. In context of singing bowls, these vibrations become more than just auditory experiences. When played, singing bowls produce sound waves with specific frequencies that are intended to resonate deeply within the body, potentially promoting physical and emotional healing. 

The frequencies produced by singing bowls are often in the range of 100 Hz to 400 Hz, which are considered to be in the low to mid-range. These frequencies are believed to align with certain energy centers within the body, allowing the vibrations to promote balance and harmony. For example, a bowl tuned to a frequency that resonates with the heart chakra may help to release emotional blockages, while one tuned to the root chakra may promote grounding and stability. 

This is just the starting point of learning about these amazing instruments! 

Thank you for coming along with me on this journey of discovery and I look forward to building on my skills as a facilitator and providing sound baths for you!

Much love, 

Katie

Resources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37532602/ 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27694559/