It’s Never Too Late to…Experience a Sound Bath
“What is a Sound Bath?” I hear you say
Well for those who haven’t heard of a Sound Bath before it is a meditative experience where those in attendance are “bathed” in sound waves produced by different instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, percussion, chimes, rattles and tuning forks.
Although many people may consider Sounds Baths a New Age phenomenon, but the practice of healing bodies through sound has been deep rooted in many cultures around the world for thousands of years! Having seen Sounds Baths on TV and read about them several times, experiencing this immersive and deep meditative experience had made it firmly to my extensive bucket list
For those of you who right now are thinking it all sounds a bit woo-woo and wondering if I have finally lost the plot, there is a huge amount of science behind the theory of sound on our physical and mental health. You only have to think how music and sound and music has the ability to sooth you, excite you, make you dance, make you cry or in the case of a dripping tap, be highly irritating, to realise that sound can have a profound impact on our state of being. There are vast numbers of books and online resources available to further explore the positive impact of sound on our health and wellbeing and I have listed a few at the end of this article.
Having done lots of research for Sound Baths available locally, I came across the wonderful Soesen Edan and her company Edan Sounds. Soesen is a certified Sound Therapist with The British Academy of Sound Therapy and a member of The Therapeutic Sound Association (TSA). She uses sound as a tool to help heal and balance and have read about her services I knew I had found my Sound Bath experience!
And so, I found myself one Sunday evening in January lying on my yoga mat in the Birmingham Buddhist Centre along with 23 others, who had also come to experience the healing power of sound. With my feet facing toward the centre of the room as instructed I got myself as comfortable as possible and was glad, I’d heeded the pre-event advice to bring my own cushion and blanket.
As the lights dimmed and my fellow sound bathers made their final adjustments to their comfort (potential snorers were asked to lie on their sides), Soesen started playing a set of singing bowls and crystal bowls, which filled the room with their joyful sound. I felt the sounds wash over me and felt a deep sense of peace and relaxation descend upon me.
With each different bowl and sound I sensed the vibration in different parts of my body, experiencing sensations in my throat, a heaviness on my chest and a tingle across my skin. Apparently, this is common as the different vibrations can awaken and align whichever chakra is out of balance. It therefore made sense that I experienced a reaction in my throat chakra as I have often struggled with speaking my truth for fear of judgement.
Following the beauty of the signing bowls came the power of the gongs which had me sinking further and further into deep meditative relaxation. I could feel sleep pulling at me, and only my fear of snoring stopped me sinking further. Next came the drumming and as Soesen walked around the room and drummed over us, I felt my body fighting against the sensation. We had been warned that we may experience some sounds as unpleasant as blockages are released.
As the Sound Bath came to an end, Soesen played a range of percussion instruments to begin lifting us slowly from our meditative states. As the last sound vibrated in the room, we were invited to take a few deep breaths before opening and our eyes and sitting up in our own time.
I left the space feeling as if I had been away on a relaxing holiday for weeks and knowing that this was only the beginning of a beautiful relationship for me and Sound Baths!
If you would like to read and explore more about Sound Baths here are a few resources:
Online:
https://www.healthline.com/health/sound-bath#how-it-works
Books
The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music – Mitchell L Gaynor
Sound Therapy: The Complete Guide on The Health Benefit of Sound Therapy - Dr. Ribes Pittman
Sound Healing: Your Definitive Guide To Using Vibrational Healing For Health, Wealth & Happiness - Bradley Meade
These resources are provided as a guide and are not endorsed by Clare Roberts-Molloy Ltd
Disclaimer: This blog article in no way represents health or medical advice. It only outlines my personal experience. Before attempting or experiencing any of the activities outlined in my Blog, please seek advice from a medical professional as appropriate.