Until recently, I had never even heard of a sound bath [1], but after reading about the benefits — reduced stress, anger, depression, and fatigue [2], according to one study — I decided to give it a try. If you're unfamiliar, a sound bath is a meditation session in which an instructor plays singing bowls [3], filling the room with beautiful sounds. It's an ancient practice that is thought to alter brain waves, allowing you to slip into deep relaxation. Still, I didn't quite know what to expect.
I felt as though I had been meditating for only a short time when suddenly the music ended.
When it was time for the session to start, everyone was told to lie down on the floor with our eyes closed. The yoga instructor began playing crystal singing bowls, and at first, the music was a bit overwhelming. It felt like the sound was bouncing around in my ear, and I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to relax. However, a few minutes into the meditation, I started to find it very soothing. I meditate regularly on my own [4] and found myself entering a deep meditative state much quicker than I'm able to at home.
The beautiful waves of sound washed over and through me, and I felt as though I had been meditating for only a short time when suddenly the music ended. Forty-five minutes had passed.
I left the studio with a sense of peace I didn't have when I walked in. I could tell that my anxiety was greatly reduced [5]. (A friend who had joined me said she felt calm as well.) The effects seemed to stick with me for a couple days, which is impressive with two children and so many things on my plate. I loved the sound bath so much that I bought a singing bowl to use during my private meditations. While it is relaxing, it doesn't compare to the sound bath experience — something I can't recommend enough. Moving forward, whenever I feel stress piling up [6], I'll turn to a sound bath for relief.
