GOOD VIBRATIONS THE POWER OF TIBETAN SINGING BOWLS
BY
CÉSAR TEJEDOR
F
or centuries, Tibetan singing bowls have been used for therapeutic purposes by healers, monks and shamans. Engravings and archaeological remains confirm that they already existed around 400 B.C. In Buddhist monasteries around the Himalayas, the use of singing bowls was very common during meditation practices, in which the aim was to achieve a balanced body, mind and spirit. Within Tibetan tantric medicine, singing bowls, bells,
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April 2015 • Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa
trumpets, gongs and the voice (reciting mantras) were all used in order to induce well-being and harmony. According to traditional practices, sound healing with singing bowls should focus on the physical, mental and energetic (and in some cases spiritual) levels of the human being. Although the use of singing bowls may seem like a simple tapping of bowls, the technique has far more foundation and intention to it than meets the eye.
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organic & wellness | good vibrations
HEALING THROUGH VIBRATIONS To better understand how the singing bowls actually work on the body and mind, imagine a human body from within. It consists of different systems (urogenital, nervous, muscular, etc.). Each system consists of a group of organs (heart, lungs, skin), and each organ is composed of a group of tissues (epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous). These tissues are made up of a group of cells (nerve cells, osteoblasts, adipose cells, etc.), which are made up of molecules that consist of atoms. The atoms, which are the foundation of everything, are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons. Atoms are constantly vibrating, which means that if everything in the universe is made up of atoms, all things that surround us (alive or not) also vibrate. So each atom, cell, tissue and organ has a natural vibrational frequency. When this frequency is not in balance, the system will not work properly, and this produces sickness or discomfort on a mental, physical, energetic and/or spiritual level. But if we are able to rebalance this frequency, we will be able to restore the state of health at any of these levels. With the vibrations produced by the singing bowls, we can alter the vibrational frequencies of the body, and reinstate health and well-being.
Some of the most prestigious spas and wellness retreats all around the world are including the use of these wonderful sound healing instruments in their menus.
Different singing bowl exercises and methods target distinct levels of the human organism. Some have more physical effects (for example, if we use large bowls during the sound bath), while others focus more on the energy level (the Chakras), the mental state (if combined with meditation) or the spiritual aspects (through Tantric practice). One must become familiar with these wonderful instruments to appreciate the theoretical concepts behind their use; simply playing the bowls without any specific intention or insight is like performing a massage without any knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and pathology. Naturally, a Tibetan singing bowl massage without foundations can be very pleasant, but its effects will be rather superficial.
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The Tibetan singing bowl experience fits well into today’s spa and wellness scene, because with the combination of the proper elements, it can treat the body, mind and energy level at the same time, making any treatment more complete and powerful. This protocol is perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere, inducing the client into a meditative state and harmonizing the Chakras.
For a full description of the protocol for each of the chakras, visit LNEonline.com
POSITION OF THE CLIENT: Supine (face up), with arms extended alongside the body, spine straight, lower limbs together and extended. A complete singing bowl session is normally done on a mat or futon, but it can also be done while the client is on a massage or treatment table.
PROCESS: This 20-minute protocol is often done as a complement to various spa, wellness and beauty treatments. Depending on the client´s needs, it can be performed at the beginning of a treatment, as a farewell ritual at the conclusion (any type of body treatment) or even in the middle of a treatment (during the waiting time of a body wrap or a facial mask).
CONTRAINDICATIONS: None, however the bowl should never be played too close to the ears.
AROUND THE BODY: Hold the bowl with one hand and play it (between four and six inches distance from the client´s body and 12 inches from the ears) while you move it in a clockwise direction around the client. Starting at the right foot, move up along the right side of the body to the head and go down to the left foot along the left side of the body. Repeat exactly the same process in a counterclockwise direction.
BENEFITS: Stabilizes, cleans and improves the free flow of energy around the body. The clockwise direction works on the masculine energy, and the counterclockwise works on the feminine energy of the body; both are essential on all human beings. This first sequence creates soft vibrations and soothing sounds that promote relaxation and induce the client into a meditative state.
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IN ACTION: Tibetan Singing Bowl Protocol
organic & wellness | good vibrations
THE CLOCKWISE DIRECTION WORKS ON THE MASCULINE ENERGY, AND THE COUNTERCLOCKWISE WORKS ON THE FEMININE ENERGY OF THE BODY; BOTH ARE ESSENTIAL ON ALL HUMAN BEINGS. THIS FIRST SEQUENCE CREATES SOFT VIBRATIONS AND SOOTHING SOUNDS THAT PROMOTE RELAXATION AND INDUCE THE CLIENT INTO A MEDITATIVE STATE.
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organic & wellness | good vibrations Offering Tibetan singing bowl treatments in your spa does not require a large investment and can easily be incorporated in the following three principal ways:
1
AS A COMPLIMENTARY RITUAL TO OTHER TREATMENTS
The renowned Six Senses Spas, creators of award-winning and exceptional guest experiences, are known for their holistic spa menus. They recently created a signature Singing Bowl Ritual to commence and conclude every treatment. This additional element of their services has a relaxing and harmonizing effect, and induces the client into a state of pseudo-meditation in an atmosphere of tranquility and comfort.
2
AS A STAND-ALONE TREATMENT THROUGH A VISITING PRACTITIONER
Inviting external wellness experts to offer their treatments at your spa is an evolving spa business trend in 2015. The Chiva Som of Thailand, an acclaimed destination spa and luxury healing resort, recently invited a sound healer to offer their guests the option to try out the different singing bowl experience in their spa with the re-programming Signature Energy (70 minutes, $250), which is performed in a deeply
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relaxed, semi-awakened state of mind. Vibration therapy tools such as crystal bowls, Tibetan singing bowls and tuning forks were set up around a massage table. The healer employed these instruments to facilitate and transcend the client’s consciousness into a deeper meditative state, sending vibrational energy through the body.
3
AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF A LARGER TREATMENT
Introducing the Tibetan singing bowl treatments as a component to a larger wellness treatment is another terrific way to refresh your menu. The Four Seasons at Kuda Huraa (Maldives) offers the Tranquil Healing Ritual (2 hours 30 minutes, $395). A muscle soothing herbal poultice massage is followed by the targeted use of the Tibetan singing bowls to balance the body´s energy centers in this relaxing treatment, which concludes with a calming marma point massage for the face and scalp. Their evening Harmonise treatment (2 hours 30 minutes, $600) is a balancing ritual that includes a Tropical Magnolia Body Ritual, Night Sky Facial and the healing vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls “to synchronise the body’s natural rhythms, harmonising body, mind and spirit.”
Some of the most prestigious spas and wellness retreats all around the world are including the use of these wonderful sound healing instruments in their menus. The integration of body, energy and mind in a single treatment creates a unique experience that is difficult to explain with words alone, however the great effect they have on our clients is not. Anyone who experiences the power of the Tibetan singing bowls will definitely want to come back to repeat the experience! Be among the first to include the next big thing in wellness on your treatment menu—offer your guests an unforgettable and restorative experience with Tibetan singing bowls! n
César Tejedor is the founder and CEO of Massage Around the World, a company that provides high quality massage courses for therapists, as well as training and consulting for spas. He is also the
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author of 19 spa training books and the creator of an online Tibetan singing bowl massage course. Tejedor offers his expertise as a visiting practitioner, spa trainer and speaker at international conferences. For more information, visit massagearoundtheworld.com or contact him at info@massagearoundtheworld.com.
Beau Institute founder Rose Marie Beauchemin
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