I’ve always known that sound was healing. Ever since I was a child I would use music as a form of self-expression. I would use it to release feelings of joy, sadness, and anger. It wasn’t until much later in life that I realized that there were actual benefits of sound on the mind and body. Not with the kind of music I was used to, but with the actual frequency of the sound. My husband has always played music set to 320 Hz at bedtime for our children to fall asleep to. I have to admit I did not always see the importance. Then I went to a sound bath. It all changed from there.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect upon entering the first time I went. I walked in to a beautifully lit room with candles burning and hammocks hanging from the ceiling. At the front of the room was this beautiful woman in white surrounded by the most amazing quartz singing bowls. She sat on a sheepskin rug, and I immediately felt at ease. Some people chose to lie on the floor with pillows and their mat, but I chose to lie in a cocoon of a hammock securely tucked inside.
She began slowly by playing lower tones. These tones made me instantly relax. I felt like I was floating both literally in the hammock and in my mind. It was hard at first not to focus on the sound itself and to let my mind roam free. As the tones became louder and intensified, I felt a rush of anxiety. I began to panic as I couldn’t tell if the sound was coming from inside my own head or from the bowls. The vibration from the sound was literally pulsating through every cell in my body. I know it sounds crazy, but for a minute I thought I was going to have a panic attack. Then the frequency changed and I felt at ease again. As the session went on, I found that I was more in tune with the sounds becoming a part of me. My mind was relaxed, and I went into a clear meditative state. I don’t think I thought about anything at all. It was as if I was on a journey in another dimension that I didn’t want to come back from. When the session ended I felt a sense of peace settle over me, and an understanding of my energies aligned again. I couldn’t wait to get out of there and see if this feeling was real. At the same time, I couldn’t wait to do it again.
So, what is actually happening to you during these sessions? Is there a real benefit to this kind of therapy? I say “oh yes!” So in addition to the relaxing benefits, here are some of the ways that sound therapy can help you in your daily life:
- Relieves stress.
- Fewer headaches.
- Boost in confidence.
- Gives you more focus.
- More energy.
- Improved relationships with others.
- Think more clearly.
- Improve organization skills.
How does this work you may ask? The law of Vibration states that all creations vibrate at certain frequencies. Everything is in motion and never rests. Electrical activity in the brain is displayed in the form of brainwaves, or rhythmic, repetitive frequencies. Our thoughts and attitude also reflect our frequency. A person that is very positive will be vibrating at a higher, faster frequency than someone with a negative outlook which will be a slower frequency. The benefit of sound therapy is that we can change the vibration in our bodies to invoke a different outcome or outlook by working with the natural activity of our brain waves. As explained by Dr. Kamaroff of Harvard Medical, “Humans are rhythmic beings: Our heartbeat, breathing, and brain waves are all rhythmic. The human brain and nervous system are hard-wired to distinguish music from noise and to respond to rhythm and repetition, tones and tunes.”
Most of the sound bathes use pure quartz bowls that each has a different tone. These tones are called the Solfeggio Frequencies. These main six sets of musical tones date back to ancient times. These frequencies are said to be the fundamental sounds chanted by Gregorian Monks. Physician and researcher, Dr. Joseph Puleo, rediscovered Solfeggio frequencies in the 1970s, bringing their benefits back into public awareness. It was found that those who performed these chants experienced the lower heart rates and blood pressure while singing, according to Dr. Alan Watkins, a neuroscience lecturer at Imperial College, London. They are considered by many to keep the mind, body, and soul in balance. Certain frequencies can provoke feelings of anxiety or tense emotion. This is the frequency unlocking a part of yourself that you have locked away. This is all part of the healing process. When I experienced anxiety, I had no idea that it was my energies reaction to the change in frequency. It was aligning something inside of myself that needed healing. This just meant that it was working! As the energies even out from the frequency you will notice a monumental change. This is why I was able to transcend after getting through the adjustment of energy.
You can use sound therapy at home without going to a sound bath as well. I definitely recommend it, but why not use this amazing technology every chance you can. Here are some ways you can try it out right now. Most of the music you listen to every day uses a frequency of 440 Hz. The frequency of the universe is 432 Hz. Your brain decodes frequencies the same way an antenna does. You can use any music app that you have to find music of different frequencies. Just type in the frequency you want in your search bar, and it will pull up for you wonderful meditation music with the exact frequency you are looking for. Here are some frequencies and their uses for you try out for yourself:
174 Hz- Relieve pain and tension. A study at Harvard University proved that the patients listening to this frequency of music were recovering faster and their mental status was far better than non-listeners. It works like a natural anesthesia.
285 Hz- Linked to the Root Chakra for feeling safe. This tone helps to heal tissue by sending a message to restructure the damaged organs and tissues.
396 Hz- This frequency helps remove subconscious fears, worries, and anxiety. It also helps to eliminate feelings of guilt and negative beliefs that block the path to achieving personal goals.
432 Hz- Natural universal frequency. A recent double-blind study from Italy showed that music tuned this frequency slows down the heart rate when compared to 440 Hz. This frequency fills the mind with feelings of peace and well-being, making it the perfect accompaniment for yoga, meditation, or sleep.
528 Hz- Cleanses disease and sickness. A 2018 study from Japan discovered that music tuned to this frequency significantly reduced stress in the endocrine systems and autonomic nervous systems. It is also worth noting that this frequency also increased cell life by about 20 percent.
741 Hz- Music tuned to this frequency helps with problem-solving, cleansing the body, and self-expression. It also helps to awaken your intuition and allows you to think clearly and focus.
852 Hz- This helps to restore your spiritual order. This is the ideal frequency if you are feeling anxious or nervous. It will help to calm you down and replace your negative feelings with positive ones.
Try using sound and these frequencies when you are relaxing at night or meditating. See how sound therapy can work for you. I strongly suggest getting to a sound bath if you have the chance. The sound of the bowls in person are like nothing you have experienced before. You can literally feel the vibrations throughout your entire body. It truly is transformative. Find your frequency, and see how you can use them to help you navigate through your health and your life.