How meditation can enhance your sound healing sessions

The power of sound resonates deeply in all of us. Have you ever had the experience of hearing a song or sound, which without any planning or thinking, takes you right back to an event from your past? In arriving there, your emotions respond with a reflection of what was present for you at the time. A smile might touch your lips and your heart, or perhaps a deep sadness is triggered by the sound.

In this week’s blog we share with you the beautiful benefits of sound healing and how meditation can compliment and blend seamlessly with this modality.

What is Sound Healing?

Sound healing, or sound bathing, is based on ancient arts which use tonal frequencies to create vibrational balance and harmony. One example of these ancient techniques is the Australian indigenous use of the incredible sound of the Didgeridoo in ceremony and healing traditions.

This balance can be experienced in both body and mind, and ultimately in your soul.

The creation of sound vibrations – waves which move through the air, pass into our body. Our body is made of 60-70% water. So thinking of the ripples on a pond, we know that those vibrations will move into the very substance of our bodies – harmonising discordant or blocked vibrations within our energy systems.

Crystal sound bowls are tuned to communicate with our Chakra system and help to create balance in our Chakra system.

Brain waves are also targeted with sound healing:

• Brain wave states – there are 5 main different states – we are oscillating through throughout our day.
• Delta (0.1 – 4 Hz) – deep sleep, unaware of what is happening – an unconscious state – important for health.
• Theta (4-8Hz) –  this is what we use in sound healing – state between awake and asleep. Related to our subconscious mind. Hypnosis, meditation, prayer – deep relaxation and inner peace.
• Alpha (9-13Hz) – Focused state – learning new things – alert yet calm – present moment focus.
• Beta (14-30Hz) – Low, Mid and High – day to day living. Ranges from focus, through anxiety and stress to anxiety and paranioa.
• Gamma (30-100Hz) – Intense energy – Fight flight states – transcendence.

Sound healing using Crystal Bowls uses Binaural beats (2 frequencies at once) which causes the brain to create the ‘difference’ between the two and places the listener into specific brain wave states.

What does a sound session look like?

During a group sound bath or session, participants are lying or seated in comfortable positions, warm and supported with blankets, cushions, props etc.

They are presented with a variety of sounds produced by the practitioner on instruments such as sound bowls – brass or crystal, gongs, drums, chimes, even voice.  In theory, any instruments could be used – played with intention and gentleness their effects can be life changing.

What are the benefits of sound healing or bathing?

• Deep relaxation – simple and so needed in our busy lifestyles.
  

  Blending meditation with sound therapy

• Healing – it has been reported that energetic blockages can be cleared through the vibrational changes within the body and mind.
• Improves your health – research has demonstrated the physical benefits of improved sleep, management of chronic pain, lowered blood pressure and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Supports mental health and wellbeing – by reducing stress responses and reported experiences of anxiety and depression

How does being a Meditation Teacher enhance your work with providing sound bathing or healing?

1. As a qualified meditation teacher you will have many skills which support your professional and safe delivery of sound sessions.
2. The initial preparation of your ‘space’ is conducive to creating a harmonious and welcoming atmosphere – as we begin our meditation guidance with the position and atmosphere stage, so too with sound sessions – you may be conducting your session in a work place or community centre, so it’s really important to make the space special with the addition of visual clues which ‘tell’ your participants that this is a sacred space. Crystals, mandala, salt lamps, candles, flowers etc all help to welcome your participants to their experience.
3. One of the most important aspects is the ability to connect with your clients and build rapport quickly. Meditation teachers use eye contact, body language and reflective listening skills to build that connection right from the first meeting.
4. 

   Using crystal singing bowls in your meditation session

   Back to positioning – as a meditation teacher, you are well qualified to offer position options to your participants – positions which will enhance the experience of the sound bath while considering, any limitations of each member. And as we say in our position stage of guided meditations, we know that it is okay to move if required during the session – repositioning with regard for other’s experience at the time.

5. Grounding is an important step in preparing for the sound experience. The use of a guided grounding will enable your participants to fully arrive before really launching into the sound bath. Without a grounding to prepare your clients, they may take much longer to connect to, and reap the benefits from, the sounds. If your sound delivery is going to run for 30 minutes, the ungrounded participants may take 10 minutes of that to fully arrive. This would result in a much shorter receptive experience for them.
6. Enhancing the experience – depending on your goal for each session, you may choose to create a theme. By using some Relaxation Body Connection techniques you can enhance the relaxation experience for your participants. Perhaps you want your session to be more of a mindfulness style and therefore use more awareness techniques.
7. Gentle and safe endings – Many sound baths just finish – leaving the participants to find their own way ‘home’ to the here and now. Your meditation teacher training skills in creating an end grounding can help your participants to safely return to your space before venturing out into the world. Thus safety, accountability and duty of care have been met.
8. Sharing – Reflective listening skills as taught at ACMM enable you to conduct and facilitate a feedback session with your participants who may wish to share their experience with the group. Allowing your participants to feel heard, and their experience validated, is a great way to bring them back to your sessions again and again. The sharing session helps to create a sense of community and connection with you and the other participants. As a meditation teacher, you’ll also be alert to any unintended side effects and will have skills and knowledge in how to manage these situations.

Being able to share both the benefits of meditation and mindfulness along with the many healthful effects of sound bathing can be highly rewarding for the practitioner. Having the skills and knowledge to provide holistic sessions which meet the expectations of your clientele in a safe and professional manner enable you to move forward with confidence into this highly rewarding modality.

Author – ACMM Coach, Susie McPhie

 

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