Sound therapy: What is it and which instruments are suitable for it?
Sound therapy has been shown to be an effective way to reduce stress and promote relaxation, and has been shown to offer many health benefits, although evidence on some methods is limited.
Do you like to relax while listening to music? Then we have a new therapy method for you that is gaining more and more followers: sound therapy or sound healing. The effectiveness of this method is well documented. Listening to music hardly carries any risks. Find the sounds that are pleasant for you.
In this blog post we will discuss the different methods, what instruments are used and what you should consider when doing sound therapy. We will also discuss the handpan and how helpful a handpan music book could be. Read on because it gets very interesting!
What is sound therapy?
Sound therapy combines sound, music and special instruments played in a therapeutic way with deep self-reflection techniques to improve health and well-being. Sound therapists believe that sounds - music, pure tones, different frequencies - can bring our energy, well-being and emotions back into balance. If you are looking for a new wellness method, sound therapy with your handpan could be just the thing.
The practice of healing with sound dates back to ancient Greece, where music was sometimes used as a means of curing mental illness. But this isn't the only case where music has been used to evoke positive emotions - music has been used in the military for years to boost morale, and "study" playlists are often used to increase worker productivity.
Sound therapy is usually performed by a trained therapist, and each session may include various sound and music-related activities depending on the method. These include listening to music, meditation, moving to the beat of a song, playing an instrument, singing and humming along to music, or sound massage with singing bowls.
SOUND MASSAGES WITH SINGING BOWLS
Sound massage was developed on the basis of ancient Eastern practices and modern scientific research into the effects of sound and vibration. In Germany, research into the science of sound and its effects on the human body is progressing rapidly and sound massage is being used more and more frequently as a complementary therapy in the health sector. Generating vibration using singing bowls is particularly popular.
Its areas of application range from gentle but highly effective relaxation to targeted use in therapy and as a complementary therapy in health and care professions.
What is a sound massage?
The ancient art of sound healing has been around for more than 5,000 years. In many cultures around the world, sounds have been used for celebration, ceremony, prayer, medicine and healing, including tribal drumming, gong playing and voice in chants and song. Today, the knowledge and research is being further developed in the West and adapted to the needs of a modern lifestyle.
The combination of sound and vibration can induce a deep feeling of meditative relaxation that helps de-stress the body and mind.
Who is sound massage suitable for?
The sound massage is suitable for almost everyone, including small children and pregnant women (in the 2nd and 3rd trimester). Each session is tailored to the needs of the customer individually. Sound massages are only carried out by trained therapists, but you can reduce your own stress with your handpan for beginners by playing meditative sounds on your own.
Are there different types of sound massages with singing bowls?
Based on the theory that vibrations release trapped energy stored in the body, this type of massage uses sound waves to create gentle rhythmic pulsations. These pulsations or vibrations are sent strategically throughout the body, massaging the cells and releasing pent-up tension. At the same time, the frequencies emitted by the singing bowls have a calming effect and put the brain into a meditative state.
To create the sounds and vibrations, the practitioner uses one or more Himalayan bowls. Made from at least seven different metals, which vary in size and weight, the bowls produce sounds in a range of frequencies and are used to stimulate different areas of the body accordingly.
Sound massage through friction of the singing bowl
Through the friction of the singing bowl, you can enjoy the benefits of a unique Tibetan singing bowl massage . Massage therapists will surely take care of you individually, using a variety of sound healing and consciousness shifting techniques developed in the Himalayas for thousands of years. As if that wasn't enough, their special singing bowls produce a variety of harmonious and soothing sounds that touch specific vibrational frequencies in our body, mind and emotions, thereby putting you into a deep state of meditation and restoring your inner peace and serenity.
Sound massage by striking the singing bowl
Striking is probably the easiest way to use a singing bowl. Here are a few instructions to get you started playing with the singing bowl and are suitable for all age groups.
- Simply hold the bowl in the palm of your non-dominant hand and the mallet in your dominant hand.
- Hold the mallet like a stick and lightly strike the bowl with the padded side of the mallet on the middle outer wall of the bowl.
- Striking the bowl produces a pleasant, full sound.
- We recommend striking the bowl once and allowing the sound and vibrations to completely fade away before striking it again.
What is a sound journey?
Sound Journeys are inner journeys guided by numerous sounds with different frequencies and vibrations. They each resonate in different parts of the body. These sounds can lead you into a state of total relaxation in which healing and connection to a higher consciousness can take place.
Who are sound journeys suitable for?
Sound baths, where singing bowls and gongs create a relaxing hum, have long been used to induce a meditative state. A sound journey, on the other hand, uses the soundscape to encourage connection to intuition. It is the difference between allowing sound to come through and actively participating in a mindful visualization stimulated by that sound. Sound journeys are designed to connect us with our ancestors and spirit guides to activate subconscious messages so that we can receive them without judgment. They are suitable for people who want to take their spirituality to the next level.
What are the positive aspects of sound journeys?
The positive aspects of a sound journey go beyond the benefits of a “normal” meditation, as it can take you to another level of consciousness, allowing you to have new experiences that will be enriching.
Are there different types of sound journeys?
There are different types of sound journeys that depend on the instrument you use and whether you are doing it in a group or alone. Playing a Tibetan singing bowl for the first time can be challenging, but with a little practice it can be easy, fun and rewarding!
There are two ways to play a singing bowl . The first is to strike the side of the bowl with a mallet. The second is to rub the edge of the bowl with a mallet. Depending on the way you strike it, the journey will be different.
Where and how is sound therapy used?
Aspects of sounds and music can improve our physical and emotional health by helping us relax, reduce pain and anxiety, or improve memory and concentration. Some research has shown that sound therapy can help lower cholesterol, strengthen our immune systems, and contribute to better health in premature babies.
Music therapy is used to treat symptoms of a number of conditions, including:
- depressions
- Anxiety
- dementia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Autism spectrum disorders and learning difficulties
- Cancer
- Behavioral and psychiatric disorders
How it works depends on the method used. Most music therapy sessions take place one-on-one with a specially trained therapist.
Which instruments are suitable for sound therapy?
In addition to the voice, the following instruments are used in music therapy:
- Singing bowls
- Handpans
- Tongue drums
- harp
- Tuning forks
- pan flute
