sound bowl therapy

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Sound bowls are ancient tools used for healing and meditation. They are one of the oldest known meditation practice and ceremonial tools used to balance and unite the mind and body. The bowls are a useful tool during meditation when we hold our focus on the tonal sound and feel of the sound within our body as we sit and listen. When a bowl is placed on the body and played, the vibration and resonance can be felt by every cell. This sound and resonance whether being heard, felt or both can help entrain our brain waves to an Alpha state of wakeful rest or a deeper Theta state of relaxed attention, both states bringing a sense of deep calm and peacefulness. During these states, our stress hormones can decrease to the point of inducing a deeply meditative experience of internal focus, allowing our intuitive sense to awaken while our body and mind truly relax. In these brain wave states, we may experience mental or emotional clarity, epiphanies, creative inspiration, new ideas flowing, intuitive messages, or answers to questions about issues we may have been internally struggling with, as well as an inner reflection without guilt or judgment. Most of all, in these peaceful states, is where intentional, innate healing can occur.

Even though we may consciously want to heal, we may be subconsciously resisting our natural healing responses due to high or chronic stress levels and nervous tension. Our body and mind can find themselves in a chronic state of “fight or flight” due to chronic stress and overreact to everyday stressors or persistent worries, leaving our natural healing ability far from reach. Our body is too busy sending stress hormones into our bloodstream, tensing our muscles, raising our heart rate and blood pressure, putting us on edge. It may become such a usual response that we do not even notice these changes. The short and long-term effects of chronic stress and nervous tension can have adverse effects on our health, contributing to physical and psychological imbalances and illness. The best way to counter this chronic stress response is by intentionally eliciting the relaxation response.

We can improve our health and wellbeing as well as bring a sense of calm and better balance to our lives. The more often a relaxation response occurs in our body the better we find ourselves equipped to reduce chronic stress and combat our ailments. We are able to alter our autonomic nervous system’s response to stress by intentionally and repeatedly inducing a relaxation response in our body. There are many ways to invite this response. Here, we use bodywork, massage, hermit yoga, meditation, and sound resonance therapies. Any of these therapies, especially when done with consistency over time, can influence our nervous system in positive ways to help us better deal with everyday stress. 

Our intention for combining the sound and resonance from the bowls with mindful massage or energy work is to help quell nervous tension and induce deep relaxation, allowing the mind and body to dwell in the stillness where natural healing may take place.