Asound bath is a therapeutic experience that involves immersing oneself in soothing sounds and vibrations produced by various instruments. This essay explores sonic bliss: the secret stress-reduction weapon you never knew existed – sound baths.
My wife is a music therapist, so you are probably not surprised by my interest in sound bath use.
Instruments that produce soothing sounds include singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and other resonant objects. It is often used as a sound therapy to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.
“The Gong is a brotherhood of tones perfectly united and blended, a cosmic entity. In it the law of cohesion manifests fully. It is a mass of atoms and molecules; it is a host of tones, of cosmic lives. It is a concentric organic body. Through which the energy of sound flows uninterrupted.” ― Dane Rudhyar
Sound bath origins
Sound healing has been around for ages, going back to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and India.
People back then understood that sound had a special power to heal and help connect with our spiritual side. They saw it as a way to reach altered states of consciousness and experience a spiritual awakening.
In those times, sound baths used various traditional instruments, each with its meaning in the pursuit of healing and balance.
These ancient practices, rooted in sacred traditions, set the foundation for the recent popularity of sound baths in wellness and meditation.
Sound bath and your chakra
Broadly, a sound bath is an experience immersed in deep sound vibrations.
Sound baths are centered on the idea that these particular frequencies correspond to specific energy centers in your body.
If you’ve ever done yoga and heard about balancing your chakras, you might be familiar with this concept.
Sound bath logistics
You sit comfortably or lie relaxed for a sound bath session.
A trained practitioner then plays music harmoniously and rhythmically, creating a meditative environment.
Theoretically, the instruments produce sound waves that synchronize with brainwaves. This phenomenon induces deep relaxation, promoting a sense of balance and calm.
But do sound baths work? Mental health benefits.
But are there any evidence-based benefits of sound baths? Maybe.
I found some evidence sound baths may help with mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, all of the studies I identified were small.
For example, a 2016 study of 62 adults gauged their feelings before a sound bath and again after a meditation session that included a sound bath. Here are the results:
Anxiety, tension, and negative moods improved after sound bath therapy.
Study results
The study participants new to this meditation type had a greater improvement in tension than experienced subjects.
The researchers missed an opportunity by doing an observational trial (they conducted questionnaires before and after the sound intervention).
Another study – Sonic Bliss: Sound Baths
Researchers enrolled 60 subjects in a separate study. The investigators examined the effects of listening to Tibetan music on anxiety.
They also analyzed the influence of sound on endocrine, cognitive, and central nervous system (autonomic) responses in patients waiting for urologic surgery.
Thirty of the participants listened to Tibetan singing bowls before surgery. The others had headphones without music. Here are the results:
Heart rate and other vitals that indicate anxiety improved in those given headphones with music.
The study authors concluded that preoperative listening to relaxing Tibetan music might be a useful strategy to reduce preoperative anxiety.
Final thoughts – Sonic Bliss: Sound Baths
There is low-level evidence that sound baths reduce anxiety and negative moods.
I did not find any reported harm from the intervention.
I would be more successful listening to a sound bath (by a trained practitioner) than doing prolonged meditation.
While I do not have easy access to a sound bath practitioner, the cited studies reminded me of how listening to music helps me dodge anxiety and stress.
Finally, sound baths are not replacements for therapy with a professional — with or without medicines — for anxiety or depression.
Do you have a go-to music for relaxation or anxiety reduction?
Thank you for reading “Sonic Bliss: Sound Baths.”
