From soothing music during a massage session to exotic singing bowl vibrations, sound has the power to heal. And not just mentally: Sound baths provide physical benefits too!
Different frequencies can help your brain waves “hack” your body’s healing process and promote nitric oxide production, a vasodilator which reduces stress hormones while increasing blood flow to cells.
Relaxation
Sound therapy is an ancient healing modality used around the world to address many different health issues. You can learn to relax using sound therapy.
Studies have proven that mindfulness meditation is effective for treating both physical and psychological conditions, such as sleep issues, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), pain management and arthritis.
Sound therapy sounds, such as chanting and nature sounds, can induce an altered brain wave pattern that rebalances body systems. Studies have discovered that high-frequency sounds stimulate specific areas of the brain which lead to improved mental health as well as decrease fatigue, stress, insomnia and other sleep disorders.
There are various methods available to you for finding relaxation, from simple breathing techniques to progressive muscle relaxation. Finding one that suits you personally is key.
Visualization can also help to unwind by creating an imaginary scene and allowing your mind to wander there. Visualization techniques often combine with deep breathing or relaxation techniques so as to bring about this state of relaxation in the body and mind.
Visualization can also help your senses unwind by engaging as many senses as possible – including sight, smell, touch, and sound. Try picturing yourself relaxing by the ocean as you focus on its crashing waves while feeling its water on your skin and relaxing there.
Start the visualization process off right by taking a few moments to relax your body and quiet your mind by taking deep breaths or focusing on your toes, visualizing their relaxation as you breathe deeply – this method can be done alone or with others.
Implementing relaxation methods over time can have profoundly positive effects on both your physical health and well-being, but you should always consult your physician prior to trying any complementary health approach or exercise regimen. Please be aware that certain medical conditions, including epilepsy or certain psychiatric diseases may prohibit using these techniques safely.
Stress Reduction
Sound healing uses sound waves to promote physical and psychological well-being, providing effective solutions to anxiety, depression, insomnia and pain relief.
Sound healing was initially used as a therapy method in ancient cultures, and is becoming more mainstream nowadays for its numerous advantages. Studies have demonstrated how sound therapy can reduce stress and improve sleep patterns as well as increase focus, creativity, and overall wellness.
There have been claims that yoga can improve energy flow throughout the body and calm the mind, thus lessening negative thoughts and emotions. Furthermore, it can serve as an aid for self-reflection and meditation.
Being so immersed in our hectic world can make it challenging to find time just for ourselves. By being able to disconnect from daily stressors and enjoy some quiet reflection, our lives become more peaceful.
Sounds we hear throughout our days can have an enormous effect on our emotions and wellbeing. Music, in particular, has been shown to increase dopamine production in our brains and result in positive feelings.
Sound can also help lift our mood through vibrational qualities of sound. Sound therapists employ tuning forks, Tibetan singing bowls and other instruments to produce sounds that soothe and revitalize both body and mind.
Sessions vary greatly in terms of intensity and duration depending on the therapist; typically lasting around 20 minutes, some may extend longer.
At the start of a session, therapists use instruments on and around participants’ bodies and heads to induce deep relaxation. Once this has taken effect, tones such as binaural beats may also be played; these have been known to amp up its effectiveness.
Some therapists use instruments in combination with mindfulness exercises or guided imagery to further relax and refocus the mind. Yoga or tai chi may also be performed to ensure clients achieve maximum relaxation levels.
Many therapists have seen first-hand how effective sound can be at reducing stress levels and suggest it as an option to their clients as an effective form of treatment. Sound therapy has even proven useful for children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Mood Enhancement
Sound can be an extremely effective tool in aiding mental wellbeing. Therapists employing instruments like Tibetan singing bowls, gongs and crystal bowls can create an atmosphere where people can relax and reconnect to themselves both physically and emotionally as well as their higher selves.
Recent research suggests that sound therapy may provide relief to people suffering from conditions like fibromyalgia, tinnitus and anxiety. Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia reported reduced pain levels as well as more freedom to sit or stand without discomfort after being exposed to low frequency sounds.
Other studies have discovered that certain sounds can help increase levels of serotonin, an essential mood hormone associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. Sound therapy could therefore prove helpful for treating depression and anxiety disorders as well.
Binaural beats offer another form of sound therapy, by playing two distinct tones into each ear at once and perceiving them as one single tone by the brain, helping boost energy and decrease stress.
Studies conducted at the University of California demonstrated that people who practiced mindfulness meditation while listening to Tibetan singing bowls experienced lower stress and anger levels compared with those who didn’t meditate, and those just starting out found the sounds of singing bowls helped them better focus their goals (Goldsby, 2017).
Some people turn to sound baths and recordings of white noise for relaxation; while for others, listening to nature sounds such as rainstorms or ocean waves may prove beneficial.
Music can also help create an environment conducive to relaxation, such as classical, jazz and blues music. These genres often contain slow melodies and transitions that help ease tension in the mind and body.
Other ways to boost mood include eating healthy, spending time outdoors and engaging in activities with positive effects – for instance playing computer games that encourage positive thinking can boost self-esteem and decrease depression.
Note that while some of these tips have proven their efficacy in improving mood, it is advisable to first consult with a physician prior to making changes in your daily lifestyle. Certain medications may cause adverse side effects, and you may require using them in combination with other approaches.
Healing
Sound Therapy can be an invaluable aid to helping your body balance its energies and release any negative emotions, as well as improve sleep and reduce stress levels.
Sound therapy immerses you in an environment of chants or sounds produced from instruments like crystal bowls and tuning forks, creating vibrations that induce deep relaxation in your body while aiding alpha brainwave patterns linked to meditation, daydreaming and sleeping.
Sound waves have been said to penetrate all layers of the body and restore healthy resonance and equilibrium, as well as stimulate production of nitric oxide by your cells – an effective vasodilator that opens blood vessels while increasing cell efficiency, according to Dr. Stefanie Menolascino, licensed psychologist and author of “The Healing Power of Sound.”
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of sound therapy as an effective solution to anxiety and depression. It can relieve pain, reduce stress and increase production of natural opiates such as endorphins and serotonin.
There has been an explosion of sound baths and wellness retreats offering sonic therapies. Numerous studios, such as Maha Rose in New York City and Woom Center in Los Angeles offer sessions which combine music, movement and sounds for an experience that is deeply relaxing.
An appointment with a sound healer might start off with breathing exercises and short meditation, followed by the practitioner striking singing bowls or other instruments to induce a state of deep relaxation.
Sound therapy can assist individuals who have experienced grief or trauma to release any negative emotions stored within their heart chakra, where they impede attainment of balance and health. It’s an especially helpful treatment option for people coping with loss.
Research suggests that sound therapies may be especially helpful for those living with chronic illnesses like diabetes, cancer and fibromyalgia. According to her, sound waves may help relieve pain while increasing nitric oxide production and decreasing inflammation, she notes.
As medicine struggles to effectively treat disease, an increasing number of people are turning to holistic treatments such as sound therapy as an alternative form of care that has no side effects and is suitable for all age groups.
