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 our body and played, the vibration and resonance can be felt by every cell in our body. 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 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 opening, new ideas flowing, intuitive messages, or answers to questions 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 the stress response is by eliciting the relaxation response.

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 may be 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 the relaxation response. Here we work with bodywork, massage, and sound resonance therapies. These therapies can influence our nervous system, reducing tension and bringing a sense of calm to our entire being. The sound and resonance from the bowls combined with mindful massage or energy work help to calm our nervous tension, inducing a deep relaxation of our mind and body where natural healing may take place.