HEALTH + WELLNESS
GOOD VIBRATIONS The Evolution of Sound Therapy BY PAULA KECK (SHE/HER)
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ver the past few years, sound therapy — the practice of using frequency and vibration to sooth and stabilize the nervous system—made its way into yoga studios, therapy sessions, retreats, and meditation spaces across the county. As ancient as yoga itself with deep roots in cultures around the world, the more recent understanding of the science behind sound healing garnered a new appreciation and expanded audiences.
History of Sound Therapy Tibetans have used metal singing bowls and other instruments
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for healing for more than 2,000 years. In ancient Greece and Egypt, physicians believed the vibrations absorbed from flutes and lyres could treat and prevent medical conditions including mental disorders, indigestion, and insomnia. Beginning in the Middle Ages, cathedrals were built with bell towers, believing those acoustics would bring people closer to the Divine. Researchers began to study the correlation between music and healing toward the end of the 19th century. Today, sound therapies around the world widely use singing bowls, chimes, and other instruments.
while a variety of instruments, including singing bowls, chimes, and gongs, create layers of sounds and vibrations that help relax the nervous system and calm the mind. Don’t expect a musical symphony when you settle in for a sound bath. The different tones and frequencies you’ll hear don’t typically include a melody or beat the mind can hook onto like music does. Some tones may feel good as their vibration passes through you, some may feel uneasy. How and where you feel the vibration is thought to indicate where energy is moving or blocked in the body.
What is a Sound Bath?
Benefits of Sound Therapy
More recently, sound therapy sessions are often referred to as “sound baths.” Typically, you either lie or sit in a comfortable position
Multiple research studies prove the benefits of sound therapy practices. One study published
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