A sound bath is simply a deeply relaxing experience where you lie down on a mat or blanket, with as many cushions or props as you need to feel comfortable, and then ‘bathed’ in the sound vibrations. 

Sound healing is very much the same, although sound healing sessions can be done as a 1-2-1 therapy with a practitioner and may also include guided relaxation and visualisation. Instruments used vary from gongs to alchemical crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, bells, rain sticks, drums, flutes, Koshi chimes, Kenari shakers, and tuning forks tuned to specific frequencies. When you head out to a sound therapy experience, allow yourself to let go and be open to the practice, and you could experience one of the many benefits for your physical and mental health including:

• Reduced stress
• Improved sleep
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduced pain
• Reduced anxiety
• Lower cholesterol levels
• Fewer mood swings
• More balanced hormones
• Greater sense of overall wellbeing

But do you know the reason why sound healing is so effective? 

Read on for the science and benefits behind sound healing and sound baths, and why they’re so popular today.

Pause for a moment and listen. What can you hear? Perhaps the hum of the refrigerator, a song on the radio, aeroplanes, wind rustling through leaves? From the most audible sounds closest to you right now, to the muffled sounds you can barely hear, all of those frequencies are having an impact on the mind and body.  

We’ve never been surrounded by sound as much as we are today. Beyond the positive and uplifting sounds of singing and music, there’s also ‘noise pollution’, which researchers say is one of the leading causes of health issues worldwide. A 2021 study estimated that people living close to busy roads were more likely to experience high cortisol (the ‘stress hormone’) levels, hypertension or heart disease, and up to 40 million people in the US suffer from a hearing impairment due to excessive noise exposure. 

It doesn’t have to be loud and disturbing noises that affect us however. The ‘bing’ and ‘beep’ of notifications can also increase stress levels. When our phones or computers make a sound to notify us of a message, our brains might release dopamine – the ‘motivation’ and ‘desire’ hormone – but they can also release cortisol, which, in excess, is detrimental to health. 

In a world with so much noise, it’s more important than ever to be intentional and conscious about how we use sound and how we interact with it, which is where sound healing comes in.

An ancient art and science

Healing with sound has existed for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians used musical incantations to help heal the sick, whilst the ancient yogic text the Samaveda contains chants and hymns and was recited in a specific harmony. Greek physicians used musical instruments to heal patients, using the power of vibration to promote healthy digestion, sleep and emotional disturbances. 

Vibration really is a key word when it comes to sound healing, because all sound is made up of vibration. All sounds are made up of waves produced by the vibrations of material objects. If you clap your hands together, this creates a vibration, which we hear as soundwaves and frequencies. If you strum a guitar, the vibration of the strings sends out waves, heard as frequencies. These vibrations are transmitted through the air, and when they reach our ears they’re converted to electrical impulses in the brain, which we interpret as sound. It’s these specific frequencies that sound healers often use in sessions in order to help balance mind-body health.