Sound Healing
Sound Healing Therapy brings the Body Vibrational Balance
Given that everything has a vibrational frequency, including ourselves, it makes sense that sound frequencies impact how we feel. That’s why particular songs and types of music often bring about specific types of emotions from us. Sound healing, which is an ancient healing technique that uses tonal frequencies to bring the body into a state of vibrational balance and harmony, plays upon this as well.
So, how does it work? During a sound healing session, The sound frequencies then slow down brain waves to a deeply restorative state, which activates the body’s system of self-healing. As our body is 70 % water the sound waves get absorbed into the vibration of the body cells and help in healing or energising faster.
And although sound healing has grown in popularity in recent years, it is a healing modality that dates way back. “From vocal chanting to instruments such as Tibetan singing bowls, shamanic drums, and more, you will find some form of sound healing in every culture on Earth,” Anjali says. “It is said that sound healing can be traced back 40,000 years to when indigenous Australians used ancient didgeridoos for healing. One of my favourite historical examples of sound healing is the sound chambers created by the ancient Egyptians in the pyramids.”
BENEFITS of
sound healing
"Sound healing balances and clears the mind, and leads to a renewed sense of purpose, well-being, calm, and happiness."
-Anjali Verma, Sound Healer
It's Super-Relaxing
Deep relaxation is one of the most significant and universal benefits of sound therapy. “The sounds permeate our system returning it back to harmony,” Sarhangi says. So if you take nothing else away from a sound healing session, relaxation on its own is worth it. With our busy schedules and so much going on in the world, we can all use some chill vibes.
It Helps Clears Energetic Blockages
Some people experience deep healing during sound therapy as the sound vibrations open, clear, and balance their chakras and release stuck energy. Schieffelin describes it as an “energetic deep tissue massage” that leaves you feeling balanced and replenished.
“When [a healing] happens, you may also feel physical sensations like tingling in your hands or feel or a sense of being hot or cold,” Anjali says. “Breathe into the sensations without attaching to them or labeling them. Instead, focus on your breath as you allow them to pass.”
It Boosts Your Health
That’s right—it’s not completely woo-woo. “Research has already demonstrated that sound healing can be incredibly beneficial when working with [a variety of] patients,” Anjali says.
Benefits can include improved sleep, reduction of chronic pain and blood pressure, lowered cholesterol, and a decreased risk of heart disease. (Although, for professional help with these ailments, please see a certified medical practitioner.)
It Supports Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-being
It also heals on the mental and emotional levels. “Sound healing helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression,” Schieffelin says. “It balances and clears the mind, and leads to a renewed sense of purpose, well-being, calm, and happiness.”
The Uses and Benefits of Music Therapy
Types
Benefits
How it works
Instruments
Summary
What is Music Therapy?
Sound healing therapy uses aspects of music to improve physical and emotional health and well-being. The person being treated partakes in the experience with a trained practitioner. Music therapy may involve:
listening to music
Singing along to music
Moving to the beat
of the music
Meditating
Playing an instrument
Healing with sound is believed to date back to ancient Greece when music was used in an attempt to cure mental disorders. Throughout history, music has been used to boost morale in military troops, help people work faster and more productively, and even ward off evil spirits by chanting.
More recently, research has linked music to a number of health benefits, from boosting immune function and lowering stress levels to improving the health of premature babies.
Types of sound or music therapy
There are a few different types of sound therapy, each with different benefits, though not all have been supported through research.
Guided meditation
Guided meditation is a form of sound healing in which you meditate to voiced instruction, either in a session or class, or using a video or app. Meditation can involve chanting or repeating mantras or prayers.
ResearchTrusted Source has found that meditation offers a number of health benefits, including:
- Stress reduction
- Decreased anxiety and depression
- Improved memory
- Reduced blood pressure
- Pain reduction
- Lower cholesterol
- Decreased risk of heart disease and stroke
Neurologic music therapy
Music therapy can reduce stress and promote relaxation. It’s been shown to be more effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety levels before surgery. A study published in 2017 found that a 30-minute music therapy session combined with traditional care after spinal surgery reduced pain.
Music therapy is administered by a credentialed provider who assesses the individual’s needs. Treatment involves creating, listening, singing, or moving to music. It’s used for physical rehab, pain management, and brain injuries Trusted Source.
What music therapy treats
Music therapy is used to treat symptoms of a number of conditions, including:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Dementia
- Autism spectrum disorder and learning difficulties
- Behavioural and psychiatric disorders
- Cancer
Some of the supposed benefits of music therapy include:
- Lowers stress
- Decreases mood swings
- Lowers blood pressure
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Teaches pain management
- lowers risk for coronary artery disease and stroke
improves sleep
How it works
Music therapy uses different aspects of sound to improve your emotional and physical well-being. How it works depends on the method being used. Most music therapy sessions are experienced one-on-one with a specially trained practitioner.
A session may involve sitting or lying down while listening to music or sounds from a speaker or instruments or having vibrations applied using a special tool, such as a tuning fork. Depending on the method, you may be encouraged to participate by singing, moving, or even using a musical instrument, or you may need to remain still and quiet to let the sounds take effect.
Instruments
Summary
Styles of music can have a significant effect on a person’s mood very quickly, and it can help them experience and process a wide range of emotions, from happiness to excitement, as well as sadness, calmness, and thoughtfulness.
Making music can also be as beneficial as listening to music, and music therapy encourages people to actively create the music they find helpful to them.
