Singing bowl therapy is a general term for individual treatments, self-care, and group relaxations using singing bowls. In all of these, the goal is to achieve physical, mental, and emotional relaxation through sound.
Singing bowls in group relaxation
Singing bowls are very commonly used as a group relaxation, or so-called chord bath, which is also called Sound healing. During a relaxation session of about 30-60 minutes, group members can curl up under a blanket or sit while listening to beautiful natural sounds and also feel sound vibrations in their bodies.
Group relaxation is often experienced as deeply relaxing, and even if the mind does not calm down, activity meters can show up to 20 minutes of deep sleep. The body and body functions are restored, even if the hour is very inspiring on a mental level. In addition to singing bowls, group relaxations can also use gongs, sea drums, koshi and zaphir wind chimes, as well as crystal bowls and harps, rain sticks and other acoustic instruments. However, the main emphasis is always on singing bowls.
Singing bowls in individual and couple therapy
Individual therapy differs from group relaxation in that the bowls are also played on the client's body. The therapy is performed in both prone and supine positions, and different sized bowls are used on different parts of the body. Individual therapy is slightly more powerful in its effects than group relaxation.
Individual therapy usually lasts 60 minutes for adults and the treatment time is shorter for children.
Singing bowls can be used for couples therapy, which is a combination of individual therapy and group relaxation. In couples therapy, two clients are treated simultaneously and the bowls are played on and around the body in a chord bath-like manner. Other therapeutic instruments can also be combined with the therapy. Couples therapy is sought by friends, couples, parent-child pairs, etc.
Effects of sound bowl relaxation
The sound of singing bowls is perceived as pleasant and relaxing, and calming the mind. This causes our brain waves to slow down, which also calms other body rhythms, such as the nervous system, breathing and heart rate. The sound waves emanating from the bowls resonate in our body and the sound vibration can be felt even when the bowl is played further away from the body. Singing bowl relaxation is said to be deeply relaxing for the body, mind and soul.
Disadvantages of Singing Bowl Relaxation
The disadvantages of singing bowl therapy are often asked about, and there are some things you should know before going for therapy. The goal of traditional singing bowl therapy is to restore the body to its normal function, both physiologically and energetically. Tibetan and Chinese medicine focus on treating health and strengthening the body holistically on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Situations where you should exercise caution when using singing bowls include those with a pacemaker, those undergoing cancer treatment, and those who are otherwise seriously ill (physically or mentally). In these cases, you should seek permission from a doctor to determine whether sound relaxation is safe.
For example, the effect of sound on cancer cells has already been studied and is still being studied. In light of current research, we do not use singing bowl therapy or group relaxation during cancer treatments, as we do not yet know enough about how different frequencies affect cancer cells.
Singing bowl relaxation and pregnancy
During pregnancy, you can safely come to a group relaxation or sound bath. Singing bowls are not used during pregnancy when played on the body, as there is no research data on the effect of vibrations on the fetus in amniotic fluid. When played around the body, singing bowl relaxation is safe and wonderful, for both the expectant mother and the fetus.
If you are unsure whether you can go for sound bowl therapy or participate in group relaxation, please check with the therapist or group instructor. Our trained sound bowl therapists and sound bath instructors will be able to answer your questions and always put the client's safety first.
Self-healing with singing bowls
You can easily treat yourself with singing bowls. With regular use, the effects of singing bowls become stronger. Self-treatment can be done with small bowls around the body, enjoying the healing sound. Biscuit-sized and large singing bowls are also suitable for playing on the body, so you can feel the sound vibration in your body.
We organize training on self-care of singing bowls and care for family members at the Caring for Singing Bowls Days, which are held at Enkelikartano in Finland.
