What is a sound bath?
As the name suggests, a Sound Bath is an immersion in beautiful sounds and vibrations that are healing for your body, mind and spirit. A Sound Bath is a deeply relaxing, meditative experience which can take you on a journey of deep relaxation, healing and self discovery.
Everything in the Universe, including our body, is composed of vibrations. Every organ and every cell in our body vibrates at a particular frequency. Sound and vibration travels up to five times more effectively through water. As the human body is made up of over 70% water we can understand that sound and vibration can effect us at a cellular level.
During a Sound Bath you will experience deep relaxation and a profound sense of peace and well-being. You will also feel the vibrations of the sound in your body.
At the start, I will lead you in a short guided-meditation to prepare your body and mind for the experience which follows. You will experience the healing power of Tibetan singing bowls, a gong, and optionally, shamanic drums, also pre-recorded sounds.
The healing frequencies and vibrations will wash away all your stress, tension, and cares. All you have to do is lie there and allow the healing sounds and vibrations to wash over you.
Additionally, your cells receive a sonic sound massage, a unique experience that can promote relaxation and detoxing at a deep level.
For the sound bath experience, whether it is a group event or an individual session, you will lie on a yoga mat, or a healing table, with a cushion under your head, covered with a comfy blanket.
Time is suspended as you enter a world of vibration, sensation and experience. Physical injuries have been reported to heal quicker, also old emotional traumas can be released.
Great insights can be accessed. You feel truly, vibrantly alive. Once you’ve had your first Sound Bath you’ll certainly want more!
Can you tell me about the gong?
The gong used by Ethan was handmade by exceptional Chinese Gongmakers in the city of Wuhan, where gongs have been made for over 1000 years and used in a wide range of uses: music, theater, royal announcements, religious ceremonies and countless other celebrations.
Let these traditional and unique Chinese gongs be your bridge between ancient and modern, mind and body, East and West. At the right time and space, they can be your stethoscope to hear the Quiet before the Big Bang
Who can have a sound bath?
Sound baths are suitable for people of all ages from young children to the elderly. There are no contraindications.
Sound baths are considered safe for pregnant women with special alterations, in this case the bowls or gongs will not be used close to the body and/or volume is kept low.
Do I need to know how to meditate?
No. No previous experience of working with sound or meditation is required.
What are the benefits of having a sound bath?
One way sound can help create deep states of relaxation is through altering our brainwave states. When our brainwave state moves from the normal waking state (Beta) down to Alpha (conscious relaxed state), Theta (dreamlike state), and sometimes even delta (deep sleep) and gamma (synchronized bran) we experience a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, our bodies relax, our breath deepens, and we move into a receptive state where deep healing can occur.
Sound has profound affects on our nervous system – helping to turn on our parasympathetic nervous system which is our relaxation response. Many of us spend too much time with an active sympathetic nervous system, which is our fight or flight response
When you are in a parasympathetic state, mind-body-spirit healing begins.
Through all of the various tones of the bowls, gongs and other instruments, the body is offered an opportunity to resonate with a healing frequency.
You are in essence giving your body, mind, and energy an opportunity to shift to a higher frequency and let go of lower vibration thoughts, emotions, and other issues. Your cells also get a sonic bath.
Some of the benefits of having regular sound baths include:
- Stress Reduction.
- Deep relaxation.
- Reduces anxiety.
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Promotes deeper sleep.
- Balances both hemispheres of the brain.
- Cells receive a sonic massage.
- Cleanses negative energy and emotions.
- Helps to connect with your higher self.
- Increases vital energy flow, creativity, intuition and motivation.
- Removes blockages and toxins.
- Strengthens immune system.
- Helps to release and clear old, harmful, or self-limiting beliefs, behaviors, or habits.
How many different bowls or instruments do you use during a sound bath session? Could you name or describe some of them?
Each sound bath session is a different experience but I always use Tibetan singing bowls and a gong, similar to the one pictured above. In addition, on occasions, I may utilize shamanic drums, rattles, and bells. Additionally, modern speakers might be utilized.
The Tibetan Bowls I use are hand made in Nepal. The bowls are still hand hammered in the old traditional way and the families chant sacred mantras while they are beating the bowls.
Could you give us some history of sound bathing?
Using sound and vibration is one of the oldest healing modalities and was used thousands of years ago in the Aboriginal, Greek and Egyptian cultures. The Aboriginal peoples in Australia were among the first cultures known to heal with sound more than 40,000 years ago. The ancient Egyptians used vowel sound chants in healing, as they believed vowels were sacred. The Greeks used similar healing chants and a variety of musical instruments in their sanatoriums.
The ancient Egyptians used sound from gushing underground water where a person seeking to heal would be positioned in an acoustic room that reflects the sound of the water for an immersive sound bath experience.
Tibetan monks have used singing bowls, whose vibrations have been described as “the sound of the universe manifesting” for thousands of years.
One way to look at many creation stories is the mention that creation started with a sound, including Vedic texts and the Bible.
Does a person need to do anything to prepare for a sound bath?
No, there is no preparation required. It is helpful to keep well hydrated the day before attending or on the day itself if the sound bath is taking place later in the day. Wear loose comfortable clothing without belts and preferably with no metal buttons or fasteners.
What should someone bring to a sound bath session?
An open heart and mind and a bottle of water!
What do you love about sound baths?
Seeing how totally chilled out and relaxed people are afterwards and hearing how deeply they have been affected by the experience
