My natural state of mind is to question everything. I don’t really like to be told what to do or think so finding out my own answers is important to me!
When I first experienced a sound bath, I felt nothing like it. My mind calmed, my body felt rested in a way that no sleep had ever given me. I was totally intrigued, and this started my own journey into sound therapy!
So how does it actually work? Why do we feel so good after sound therapy? Let me share some of the science with you...
How sound therapy works with brain waves...
We know we have different types of brain wave:
Beta brain waves are those that signify we are awake and alert. This is where we spend most of our day – in a beta brain state.
We also can drift into an alpha brain wave state – a light relaxing state. This is maybe when we are on a lunch break, chatting with friends, going on a walk.
There are further brain wave states too – theta and gamma waves. These are at a much slower level and when we are in those brain wave states, we heal, we enter a deep state of relaxation, a meditative state where we become more connected to ourselves and the world around us.
Buddhist monks have been tested to have a high level of gamma and scientists even discovered they have ultra gamma brain waves – an even higher level of connection and conscious awareness.
So what difference does this make?
We are only beginning to understand from a scientific standpoint the real power of sound vibrations on the body and mind.
What we do know is that certain sound frequencies and vibrations slow down the heart rate, slow down our breathing and bring us to a theta and gamma brain wave.
This means that the body and mind can slow down. We come into a parasympathetic state where we are free from stress, inflammation is reduced, and we heal.
And as we are beginning to understand the impact of stress on our physical and mental health, being able to get to a state where that is reduced or removed has huge health benefits.
Sound is healing...
This is where the real power of sound therapy can lie. The vibrations and frequencies that we use in a sound bath are of a frequency and level that assist us to get into a parasympathetic state. We can use the concept of brain wave entrainment – meaning that the brain waves naturally match the vibration and sound.
So when you come to a sound bath, it can help you come into a parasympathetic state. Where your body and mind can slow down, where you can heal, rest deeply and reduce stress and anxiety. This is why you feel so rested afterwards! Your whole brain and body have been assisted to come into a deep state of relaxation through the sounds and vibrations that you feel.
The science behind it all is fascinating and really shows how beneficial sound therapy can be for our physical and mental health.
If you would like to experience the benefit of sound therapy with me please do click below and you can join me at my next group session or come along for a 1:1 session.
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