You’re on high alert, and you don’t even realize it. Modern lifestyles, particularly our daily screen time, make us tense and impatient, increasing our worries and decreasing our ability to focus.
It’s unreasonable to expect everyone to ditch their devices. Rather, we should be more aware of its impact on our bodies and minds, and do what we can to release those effects. That’s where a sound bath comes in.
A sound bath is a meditative practice where we immerse ourselves in healing sound, most often singing bowls. You sit or lay in savasana, letting the sound wash over you, cleansing the body and mind of noise and tension.
Today, it’s common to host sound baths in corporate settings or at meditation centers. The many, many people who don’t have access to these places need not worry - you can enjoy daily or weekly sound baths on your own.
Here’s why and how you should take a healing, soul-lightening sound bath in the comfort of your home.
What are the benefits of sound baths?
Sound therapy sessions can help us destress, refresh, and even enjoy biological benefits like lower blood pressure. These are the natural results of inducing the relaxation response.
Some researchers are even delving deeper into the idea that sound and vibration can help us effectively manage physical pain.
Preparing an At-Home Sound Bath
The most important ingredient for your at-home sound bath is the singing bowls. If you have a collection, this is the perfect time to bring them all out. You will alternate striking and playing the rim of each, letting the sound of one hang in the air as you move on to the next.
Using bowls of varying sizes and sound adds dimension. If you’re looking to shift energies in your home as well as the body, multiple tones and frequencies can enhance the effect. We recommend adding our Golden Solstice singing bowl for ceremonial importance as well as healing sound.
If you only have one singing bowl, that’s fine. There are no rules when it comes to the number or size of singing bowls used for a sound bath.
Once you choose your spot, make it comfortable. A folded blanket or low cushion on the floor is suitable to sit on while playing. Some people also prefer low natural lighting, aromatherapy diffusers, and candles.
Taking an At-Home Sound Bath
Once you’re seated, take a moment to set an intention and decide what you want from your sound bath. If you could command your singing bowls to emit a particular kind of energy, what would that be?
Sit and meditate on this for a minute, taking full, even breaths. Now begin to play, going between singing bowls and playing techniques in whichever sequence or pattern feels right to you.
Strike one and let it ring while you make another sing, or alternate striking and playing the rim of one solitary singing bowl.
As you play, be mindful not to tense the shoulders or ask too much of your wrists.
One of the greatest things about creating a sound bath is what it can do for others in your home. Let anyone else present lay in savasana while you play; children especially may prefer this to regular old naptime. Plus, they’ll be a lot calmer afterward.
Taking a Virtual Sound Bath at Home
Would you rather let your entire body relax during a sound bath? Silent Mind has added some meditation tracks to Spotify perfect for this occasion. Be sure to wear headphones for an immersive experience.
Are you going to host an at-home sound bath this week? What’s your ideal setup? If it’s your first time making a sound bath, don’t forget to try our Singing Bowl Selector to find the right tools for the job.