I Tried a Sound Bath—Here’s What Happened

I’ll admit it: To say I’m a yoga and meditation professional couldn’t be farther from the reality (a tough capsule to swallow, contemplating I’m a wellness author and a local of the land of inexperienced juice, healers, and crystals, AKA LA). Certain, I can do Pilates in my sleep and I’ve acquired my shut-eye schedule right down to a science (humble brag), however in relation to practising poses and getting my thoughts to quietly sit nonetheless for minutes at a time, I’ve acquired my work reduce out for me. So after I first heard a few sound bathtub, I took it as a problem to up my yoga and meditation sport. Plus, it’s stated to enhance temper and mindfulness, so perhaps it could possibly be the lacking piece to quieting my thoughts and bettering stress ranges. With the assistance of Eva Hooft, a breathwork and sound facilitator, I break down what a sound bathtub is, its benefits, and my private expertise.

What’s a sound bathtub? 

Although lately turning into well-liked in the US, a sound bathtub is an historical meditative observe with roots from over a thousand years in the past in Tibet. Sound therapeutic and sound remedy could date again even additional, with historical Egyptians utilizing vowel sound chants in therapeutic practices, as they believed vowels have been sacred. Sound has lengthy been used to supply therapeutic, or psychological and bodily advantages. So what’s the historical observe that’s popping up in yoga and meditation studios everywhere in the world?

A sound bathtub has nothing to do with water (consider it like you’re “bathed” in waves of ambient sound). “A sound bathtub is a meditative expertise that makes use of sound and vibration to result in leisure, therapeutic, and a way of well-being,” Hooft defined. “The sound waves produced could be light or intense, relying on the devices used. Typically, this consists of devices corresponding to crystal bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, drums, rattles, or gongs. These are used to create a sonic environment that may create an altered state of consciousness.” Every instrument emits a special frequency, creating harmonic vibrations within the physique meant to stimulate the alpha and beta mind waves, selling deep leisure and permitting your coronary heart and breath price to decelerate.

Don’t count on catchy tunes, however fairly extremely resonant music that envelopes you and ideally places you in a deeper state of consciousness, shutting off your physique’s “fight-or-flight” mode so that you could be absolutely current and let all of it go. The outcome? A restorative impact in your thoughts and physique. And in contrast to taking a yoga class or some meditation and breathwork strategies, you’re not guided all through a sound bathtub. Contributors normally lie down with eyes closed and are inspired to simply hear, be aware, and let the meditative advantages set in. Sounds straightforward sufficient, proper?

What are the advantages?

As a result of how we absorb and interpret sounds range from individual to individual, every particular person goes to expertise a sound bathtub otherwise, as with every different wellness ritual. However the basic consensus is that the calming impact of sound baths alone may also help you hit reset and really feel extra comfy and grounded. Nonetheless not satisfied? Based on a 2017 examine on Tibetan singing bowl meditation, sound meditation could produce psychological and bodily well being advantages, particularly decreasing emotions of stress, anxiousness, and despair, growing religious well-being, and decreasing blood strain and coronary heart price. 

“Sound baths have a spread of psychological, bodily, and emotional advantages,” Hooft affirmed. “They may also help to scale back coronary heart price, decrease blood strain, and regulate respiration patterns, which in flip can scale back anxiousness and enhance sleep. The soothing vibrations additionally permit for deep muscular leisure, which may also help relieve ache or irritation within the physique. On a psychological stage, they’re nice for decreasing stress ranges and clearing out adverse thought patterns. They permit us to achieve a state of mindfulness the place we are able to change into extra conscious of our personal emotions and ideas with out judgment or attachment.”

Are there any drawbacks?

“For most individuals, there aren’t any downsides to doing a sound bathtub,” Hooft stated. “Nevertheless, there’s a small probability it’s possible you’ll get a bit dizzy or nauseous afterwards (this normally fades fairly shortly). It may possibly additionally deliver up emotional trauma, which could be overwhelming for some individuals.” Moreover, sound baths might not be appropriate for individuals with sensitivity to sound, epilepsy, steel implants, or who’re pregnant. When you’ve got any hesitation, seek the advice of your physician earlier than partaking in a sound bathtub. 

My expertise  

After I visited Breathwrk in Venice to participate in my first sound bathtub, I used to be met with what regarded like an extraordinary yoga studio, besides with coloured temper lighting, mats laid out with folded blankets on prime (the right set-up for a very good cat nap, if you happen to ask me), and on the entrance of the room sat a semi-circle of sound bowls lit by candlelight. I scored one of the best mat in the home, in keeping with Hooft—entrance and heart—to get probably the most out of the expertise. The theme of the 75-minute session was manifestation, so we began by sharing what we desired and what stood in the best way of us reaching our goals (assume: limiting beliefs, concern) with a accomplice. Then, we moved into breathwork and the primary occasion: the sound bathtub. At first I struggled to clear my thoughts, nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy to change into absolutely immersed within the symphony of resounding tones.

After what felt like 10 minutes (I misplaced all sense of time), I felt a floating-like sensation as I visualized my needs and tapped into the sensation of residing them, intertwined with pleasure and pockets of grief from the current lack of a cherished one. Despite the fact that I used to be current in my very own journey, I used to be nonetheless conscious of the opposite attendees and their occasional sighs, sniffles, or snores that discovered their means into the combo. Translation: I discovered my meditative state. I managed to remain awake all through the session (a lot to my shock), tune out the surplus chatter in my thoughts, and notice a leisure much like that of getting a stable therapeutic massage, leaving my thoughts and physique crammed with nothing however gratitude, motivation, calmness, and the sturdy urge to crawl into mattress for a blissful evening’s relaxation. And that I did, sound Zzzs and all.   

Please observe {that a} sound bathtub shouldn’t be thought of a substitute for any medical therapies you’re having. All the time search the recommendation of your doctor or different certified well being supplier with any questions you’ll have relating to a medical or psychological well being situation. By no means disregard skilled medical recommendation or delay in in search of it due to one thing you could have learn on this article.