What is Sound Healing?
16 Oct 2023 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
A world without sound is unimaginable. It is everywhere and in everything, if not loud, then at least subtle. Sound is energy. It was not invented or discovered, but something that has always existed. Since sounds are innate to all of us, it’s no surprise that they affect us in a variety of ways. Sound directly affects the molecular structure of the body, helping to repair, rejuvenate and refresh. It not only affects the body and mind but is also said to connect the physical, mental, and spiritual realms. The sound has been used for centuries to promote physical and emotional well-being. Using positive vibrations and frequencies helps the body and mind return to a stable state. More below on Sound Healing.
Sound healing practices stem from the idea that our bodies and minds function with specific vibrations and frequencies. We can’t always perceive them with our senses, but we can perceive them through our emotions and other energy sources. When these vibrations are no longer in harmony, various physical, emotional, and mental symptoms can occur. Sound healing is therefore a practice that aims to achieve this harmony by manipulating these vibrations with various tools.
History of Sound Healing
Sound healing is an ancient therapy used to cure diseases and promote spiritual upliftment. It was the first form of traditional medicine. Each culture has developed its method of using sound to eliminate negative energies, cure illnesses, and induce trance.
In Indian culture, people chanted mantras to cure illnesses, boost immunity, calm the mind, and clear karmic imbalances. Music therapy played an integral role in the temples of India and ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used music, magical chants, and specific instruments that produced sound waves for healing.
In Greek mythology, Apollo, the god of music and medicine, was said to cure mental illness through song. Hippocrates and other Greek physicians played music and used flutes and lyres to treat their patients. Shamans worldwide used drums to transcend themselves and their patients to a higher level of consciousness, promoting physical and mental well-being. The healing properties of sound are also discussed in the teachings of Buddha and Tibetan religious texts that emphasize the importance of Tibetan healing sound instruments.
Type of Sound Healing
Sound Healing requires certain tools. Some of these tools are easy to find and learn, while others require special circumstances and professional guidance. We will discuss some of the most used sound healing techniques. Type of Sound Healing
Sound healing requires specific tools. Some instruments are easy to find and learn, while others require special circumstances and professional guidance. We will discuss some of the most commonly used sound healing techniques.
• Voice
The voice is the fundamental tool of sound healing and the most important because it is directly related to the vibrations of the body. There are many tools on the market, but we must never forget that we are tools that carry the power of healing. You can heal your voice by humming, singing, praying, saying affirmations, etc. Yoga practices such as Brahmari and Ujjayi Pranayama, mantra chanting, and kirtan are techniques that use the voice for healing.
• Tibetan Singing Bowls
Buddhists commonly use Tibetan singing bowls in religious practices, and they are one of the most popular sound healing methods. These bowls are made from a small number of sacred metals and crafted using the art of forging and tuning, which gives them a unique frequency and vibration. When struck, they emit a rich blend of harmonious sounds that directly impact the chakras and enhance the meditation process.
They restore the body’s normal vibration frequency. The deep sounds of singing bowls help heal many ailments and promote holistic health. Due to its effective therapeutic benefits, singing bowls are considered one of the most popular sound healing methods.
• Classical Music
Music takes us to another dimension that feels like an ideal world. Classical music serves as an excellent tool for sound healing and promotes learning and creativity. Today, people increasingly use it to treat depression, anxiety, muscle tension, high blood pressure, and more. It also benefits pregnancy and baby development. Guided meditations, where people meditate following spoken instructions, are included in this practice.
• Gong bath
The gong or sound bath is an ancient Asian sound healing technique that creates the vibrations of all the water in the body. It is a “bath” of sound waves that produce a wide spectrum of harmonics that create vibrations that bring inner harmony and facilitate healing. People use gongs for yoga, meditation, and chakra balancing.
• Tuning Forks
People use tuning forks to heal with sound, using the body as the instrument. In medicine, they help localize bone fractures. Tuning forks use sound waves to stimulate meridian points, promoting the body’s natural self-healing energy by applying specific vibrations to targeted areas, releasing tension, and unblocking energy. It works like acupuncture but without needles. Tuning forks promote mental balance and clarity, relieve pain, relax the body, and increase physical energy. They restore chakra balance and maintain the body’s harmony.
• Didgeridoo
Didgeridoos are indigenous and spiritual instruments made from wood that originated in Australia. People use it in healing and meditation to enter a deep trance and unblock stagnant energy. It reduces snoring, improves sleep quality, and alleviates asthma symptoms.
Benefits of Sound Healing
Sound healing has many multitude of benefits physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in every. Following are some of the major benefits of sound healing:
- Helps to Relieve Stress
- Boosts Brainwaves
- Helps in the Improvement of Health
- Helps in releasing Buried Emotions, Enhancing Mood
- Gives you more focus
- Helps in Expansion Consciousness
- Helps in Increase Heart-Brain Coherence
Learn more about the different aspects of sound from the traditional sound healers and meditation gurus, who have learned the art of sound healing from traditional texts and have been healing people for ages. Learn the beautiful singing bowl training or Sound Healing training in Nepal with Himalayan Yoga Academy.