Sound healing is a growing field of alternative medicine that has been around for thousands of years. Music has been used throughout history to create positive effects on our mood and as a form of therapy to heal the body, mind, and spirit. Many people find that after practicing sound healing techniques, they experience an increase in energy, improved mental clarity, increased creativity, and better relationships. Best of all, it’s safe, affordable, and effective. There are many ways to practice, but first you’ll need to know why sound healing works, how to get started, and what to expect during a session.
What is sound healing?
Sound healing is the use of specific instruments, music, tones, and other sonic vibrations to balance and heal the body, mind, and spirit. It involves using specialized sound frequencies to create a therapeutic atmosphere to promote deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Ideally, a hypnotic, meditative or theta brainwave state is created which allows access to deeper levels of inner wisdom and healing.
A sound therapy treatment is performed using music or other sounds that you listen to while lying down or comfortably seated. Focusing on these soothing vibrations helps you relax and release stress, anxiety, and tension. It also encourages deep breathing and, may include meditation prompts and visualization exercises as well.
A sound therapy treatment is done by playing specific frequencies of sound around and on specific body parts of the patient. These healing sessions are held in a private room, yoga studio or community space. A personalized session begins with an introduction to the client’s health concerns, followed by a guided meditation that will help you relax and receive the healing vibrations. A recording of the session may be made for you on request.
Sound therapy uses specific frequencies of sound waves to affect the brain and nervous system. When applied correctly, sound heals the body and promotes wellness.
There are many different types of sound therapy, each one will produce different results. The best way to determine if this type of healing works for you is to try some sessions and explore different techniques. If sound therapy is a good fit, you should experience one or more of the following benefits.
- Deep Relaxation
When you listen to soothing sounds, your body releases endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and norepinephrine. These feel-good chemicals make us happy and help move us out of a fight or flight stress response. They also reduce blood pressure and heart rate, which promotes deep states of relaxation. - Better Sleep
Listening to soothing music before bedtime can make us sleepy and can improve sleep quality. This is because the relaxation response is triggered by slow brain waves, such as those produced by deep meditation. Listening to relaxing music before bedtime can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. And since sound therapy reduces stress, it can help you wake up feeling refreshed. - Pain Relief
When we suffer from physical pain, our brains send signals to our bodies to stop producing certain hormones. Since these hormones cause inflammation in the body, they can actually worsen the pain. But when we listen to soothing music, our brains release endorphins, which block the effects of these inflammatory hormones and helps relieve pain.