Sound healing isn’t just a new age fad, it can be a very effective non-invasive solution to many of the most common emotional and physical health problems we face. It’s a powerful tool that can be used in conjunction with meditation and other wellness practices to create a holistic approach to overall wellbeing.
Every object in the universe has a vibrational frequency and these frequencies can interact with our cells to produce specific results. For example, if you tap a wineglass, it will emit a specific ringing tone determined by its size, shape and thickness, this is called its resonant frequency. This principle of resonance is also why musical tones can have such a powerful effect on our mood and emotions. From classical music to horror movie soundtracks, major and minor chords elicit different feelings in the listener. Sound healing uses instruments and vocals to create vibrations that can have an impact on the cellular level.
The resonant frequencies of certain sounds encourage the molecules in our body to resonate and move at their optimal pace, this is known as entrainment. During a session of sound healing you will be exposed to vibrations that are not only soothing but also deeply relaxing. The sounds can be from a variety of instruments including tuning forks, gongs, singing bowls, and more. They can be a combination of different tones or they can be one single sound such as the word AUM which is said by some practitioners to be the universal vibrational frequency and has been found to have a profound impact on the human experience.
During a sound healing session you may feel extremely calm and relaxed and this is because your brain waves have shifted from the beta state that we live in, often associated with worry and anxiety to an alpha or meditative trance like theta brain waves which is very relaxing and calming. The benefits are magnified when combined with meditation and other mindfulness techniques.
In addition to relaxation and stress relief you can expect to see a reduction in pain, headaches and other ailments. A sound healing session can help to release old patterns of negative behaviour and encourage new ways of being in your life.
You don’t need to see a sound healer to experience the benefits of this practice, you can do it on your own at home or even in your office with headphones and a playlist of your favourite soothing sounds. You can also learn to chant, use your own voice or simply listen to relaxing nature sounds such as waves on the beach, birds chirping or anything that you find relaxing. Binaural beats have also become quite popular and are based on the principle that the difference in hertz of two tones played in each ear causes your brainwaves to synchronize with them. This entrainment can bring you into states of deep meditation, creativity and daydreaming or even sleepy meditative theta waves. Sound for healing