What is a sound bath?

First of all, there's no water involved and…you keep your clothes on!

The "bath" element of a sound bath refers to the sensation of the vibrations created by the sound washing over you as you lay down on a yoga mat.

What to do during a sound bath?

Nothing! You lie down on a mat, build a comfortable ”nest” with blankets, pillows, an eye mask, then just float away as you listen to the various sounds produced.

If you're anything like me, then sometimes doing nothing (and thinking nothing) is actually harder than being on the go. I've often found it very difficult to meditate in silence, and like me, many find that they need a little help to access the benefits of deep meditation.

As human beings, we hear sound through our ears, but also through our skin. Everything in the world is vibrational. We know that vibration touches every part of our physical being and that sound is heard not only through our ears, but through every cell in our bodies. As the vibrational frequencies wash over you during a sound bath, they can have wide ranging positive effects, from a sense that you’ve been somehow "tuned up" on a cellular level, to deep relaxation and rejuvenation, inspiration, clarity and more. It’s highly subjective, and there’s no right or wrong way to experience it. The trick is not to become attached to the outcome of a sound bath, and to just let the vibrations do the work!

A sound bath is a time of stillness that you’ve taken just for you. Indulgence and self care are key to a fulfilling life, and taking even just one hour a week to bathe in sound can have a profound impact on your well-being.

The Science of Sound

If a more scientific explanation of what happens during a sound bath resonates with you, then there is plenty to get stuck into.

Sounds produced by the instruments played in a sound bath, such as gongs, bells, chimes, singing bowls, can calm the parasympathetic nervous system, putting you into rest and repair mode. This rebalancing of the automotive nervous system, which modern life usually throws out of whack, is important, because when we live in a constant state of fight or flight mode, it is ultimately our health that suffers.

The sound waves produced by a gong have the ability to induce a theta brain wave states, associated with dreaming and day dreaming, reduced consciousness and access to the unconscious, uninhibited imagination, bliss and contentment.

It’s all about that vagus nerve

Ah the vagus nerve. It’s a nerve connected to the ear (handy!), and stimulating the vagus nerve through sound in a sound bath, promotes deep healing and stress reduction. It does this by carrying signals from the digestive system and organs to the brain (and vice versa), and by stimulating it you can send a message to your body that it’s relaxation time!

New Science or Lost Art?

There is so much research and scientific study on the link between sound and its positive impact on heath. The next 10 years of science and sound research will only accelerate as we discover the new science of a lost ancient art.