If you have seen, heard, or played a sound bowl, you'll never forget the deep vibrations that wash over you.
Sound therapy has become a popular tool for healing the mind, body, and spirit specifically with the use of singing bowls like the ones (pictured) that our Activ Life yoga instructors use. You can read more about how we are incorporating this vibration into our outdoor yoga classes in the Cayman Islands here.
Tibetan bowls usually contain anywhere from five to seven precious metals: lead, tin, iron, copper, mercury, silver, and gold. The size of the bowl and the ratio between the metals affect the tone, vibration and quality of sound produced by the bowl. Strikers are wooden mallets used to either strike or rotate around the rim of the bowl.
While bowls are more often than not used to support a mediation practice, they can also help us achieve deep relaxation and muscle regeneration. When hearing the unique tones of a sound bowl, you may find ease in emotional tension or pain such as worry, fear and anxiety.
Scientific research has confirmed recognisable waves connected to different states of our consciousness. In a normal everyday conscious state, the brain produces beta waves. When entering meditation or calm consciousness, your brain produces alpha waves. In a state of slumber, theta waves are present. Lastly, when in deep sleep, delta waves emerge.
In knowing this above information, scientists put sound bowls to the test and recorded the sound waves released from the bowls while being played. The wave patterns matched alpha waves produced by our brain, which are found in deep relaxation.
For a delicious sound bowl healing experience, sign up to the Activ Life Online Studio to access our live and pre-recorded classes at any time of the day and night. Your first 14 days are free.
Miranda Morris is a yoga instructor for Activ Life, a leading health and wellness company based in the Cayman Islands. If you enjoyed this article you may also like: The power of sound in yoga and Meditation for self-care.