Reach calmness with sound baths

I came across sound baths a few years ago when I was looking for a way to relax amidst all the stress and noise from the outside world. A friend introduced me to this practice she swears by and it is so simple that even her partner, who is not very keen on meditation, loves it.

Sound bath is quite a simple form of meditation that uses a specific type of sound, generally the one emitted by singing bowls, gongs or other low pitch instruments to stimulate the brain's electrochemicals activating those low frequency waves that induce a sense of peace. 

What is a sound bath?

The beauty of sound meditation or sound therapy is that it can be done anywhere from the comfort of our home, lying down on a bed or sitting in a classic meditative pose, or at a meditation center. There is probably one near you that you can try out. The two main things to look for are a clean and calming space and an experienced guide who can play calming music by way of using Tibetan bowls and other overtone instruments.

In fact, is that specific sound that emerges from overtone instruments, which is around 131 Hz, that stimulates the alpha and theta brain waves which are low in frequency and high in altitude and are associated with a feeling of non-arousal, in other words calmness. The same type of calmness you can find by walking in a green garden, driving on a highway or simply meditating. 

Sound bath therapy can be done anywhere even at home lying or sitting down.

During a sound bath the heart rate slows down and allows us to go into a deep meditative state, but while even a simple meditation requires a little bit more effort on our side, making sure our brain does not wonder, the frequency of the sound does the trick with very little effort from our side. This is what makes it more accessible for everybody: you simply lie down and get lulled by the sound waves.

Although there is only sparse research on the benefits of sound baths it is easy to test their effectiveness by simply trying them out a few times. You can start by doing it at home: all you need is a blanket, as your body temperature drops when you relax, find a cozy spot in your home and download a sound bath playlist of your choice. Put your phone on silent mode and let your mind reach a state of total relaxation that will make you feel refreshed for the rest of your day.

I personally love the sound of the singing bowls so much that I went the extra mile and got one that I play whenever I need that calming sound or at the end of my practice for closure.

I usually follow my sound bath with a warm cup of adaptogen filled latte with cocoa and ashwagandha to extend the benefits of the therapy before moving on to something else.

Try it and let us know what you think!