Sound Baths: The Benefits, and Side Effects

Who doesn’t want to banish stress and anxiety from their system these days? As the search for new ways to soothe stress and anxiety continues, many traditional methods resurface.

One of these is a sound bath or sound therapy. Although the term ‘sound bath’ might bring images of a relaxing bath with music to mind, the therapy does not involve water at all.

It is an ancient therapy to soothe not only stress but also pain. Read on to learn more about this therapy, which is becoming increasingly popular nowadays.

What is a Sound Bath?

It is basically a therapeutic and meditative experience whereby you “bathe” in the sounds and vibrations produced by different instruments such as gongs, tuning forks, and crystal bowls.

Your mind enters a meditative and relaxed state through these sounds and vibrations. This brings about healing at mental, emotional, and physical levels. 

A sound bath or sound therapy affects your entire body. If you have been at a concert or a musical party, you can literally feel the bass vibrate every cell in your body. You have a similar experience during a sound bath.

How Does a Sound Bath Work?

Basically, everything in the entire universe has vibrations. This includes our bodies as well; every cell in our body vibrates at a particular frequency.

As sound and vibrations travel through the water more effectively and our bodies are made of 70% water, the sounds and vibrations in our environment affect every cell in our body.

During a sound bath session with a practitioner, you lie down on a yoga mat with a comfy cushion under your head.

The practitioner then asks you to focus on your breath for a few minutes to relax and then uses different instruments like healing bowls, tuning forks, and gongs to produce different sounds and vibrations.

The sounds wash over your mind and body and take you to a deeper state of consciousness, such as during meditation. You actually unplug from external stimuli and enter a state of inner peace and harmony. 

A sound bath also releases emotions trapped in your mind and leads to self-inquiry. The vibrations shake things at the root level and release energy gained through past experiences. So, you might become overjoyed or sad during the session.

What are the Benefits of Sound Baths?

Sound has proven to have healing effects on the mind and the body. A sound bath session can lead to reduced anxiety levels, tension, and sadness, as well as diminished pain. 

Basically, during a sound bath, the brainwave state is altered from a normal waking state (beta) to a relaxed state (alpha), a dreamlike state (theta), and even a restorative state (delta).

As the mind and body relax, the heart rate and blood pressure decrease, and our breathing becomes deeper.  It is in this state that deep healing can occur.

Thus, a sound bath not only reduces stress and anxiety by inducing a state of relaxation but also has physiological benefits.

These include reducing pain, better sleep, removing toxins, and strengthening the immune system.

As there are so many benefits, you will definitely want more sound therapy once the session is over.

Side Effects of Sound Bath

Here are some of the common side effects of sound baths:

Tingling sensations

You may feel tingling or fluttering sensations in your body during or after the sound bath.

Some people describe it as an energetic release or energy coming up from the ground into their bodies.

This is normal, but if it bothers you, let your guide know so they can adjust their playing accordingly.

Vibrations

Your palms may vibrate or feel hot during or after a sound bath — this is a sign that you’re feeling something! The vibrations may be strong enough to see them in your hands.

Tiredness

The most common side effect of sound baths is feeling tired after the session. If you’re trying to get up early to work, maybe this isn’t right for you.

Aches and pains

Some people report their aches and pains worsening after a sound bath. This happens because sound waves penetrate deep into the body, causing your muscles and tissues to relax.

How to Prepare for a Sound Bath?

Believe it or not, you don’t need to have any previous experience with meditation for sound bathing.

That’s because all of us have some sort of relationship with sound. So, even if you are sound bathing for the first time, you can enjoy the same benefits as regulars.

Plus, you don’t need to be particularly disciplined for a sound bath, so it’s a great start for your meditative journey.

Just be well hydrated, eat light before the sound bath, and carry a water bottle. Also, ensure that you wear loose, comfortable clothing for your session.

That is all you need to do in order to prepare for your sound bath therapy session. 

How Much Does a Sound Bath Cost?

The cost of a sound bath depends on the venue and the practitioner. Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 and $100 for a single session.

If you’re taking a sound bath at home or in a studio setting, you may be able to find it cheaper than this. But if you’re going to a spa or wellness center, expect to pay at least $100 per session.

Sound baths are not regulated by laws or licensing requirements, meaning anyone can call themselves a “healer” and offer services without any training or certification.

This makes it hard for consumers to know how much they should pay for a session with an experienced practitioner.

We recommend asking questions about their training and experience before booking an appointment.

What to Expect from a Sound Bath Session?

A sound bath basically makes you feel relaxed and refreshed. As you consciously listen to the sounds, your mind mediates.

Throughout the session, you might feel different mental and physical sensations. You might also enter a state of deep relaxation or might even have an ‘aha’ moment. You might feel overjoyed or sad as your buried emotions are released.

Everyone has different experiences with sound bath therapy, but most people feel relaxed.

What to Do after a Sound Bath?

As your body is subconsciously healing and energy has shifted, you need to take great care of your body after your sound bath session. You need to rest and drink lots of fluids to promote healing.

Can a Sound Bath be Dangerous?

No, a sound bath is not dangerous. The frequencies of the sounds produced during the session do not damage your hearing. It is safe to go to a sound therapy session even during pregnancy.

However, for some people, the sounds produced might create panic or cause sadness. This normally happens as the sounds and vibrations unlock emotions buried deep within your consciousness. So, you don’t need to be worried, just relax and acknowledge the emotions.

How Often Should You Do a Sound Bath?

Generally, 1-2 sessions per month are recommended. However, if you are experiencing emotional, physical, or mental challenges that need to be addressed, then weekly sessions are better.

Also, if you are just starting out, then go for 4 sessions spaced 1-2 weeks apart.

Basically, it is best to have regular sessions rather than occasional ones. That’s because regular sessions offer more long-term benefits. 

Can You Do a Sound Bath at Home?

You can certainly have your sound bath session at home if attending a group session is not practical for you. There is plenty of sound bath music available on the internet. You can look for suggestions amongst them. 

Once you have selected the recorded music or session sounds you want to play, lie down comfortably.

Then, close your eyes and take deep breaths. Focus on your breathing, relax, and then focus on the sounds around you. Listen and focus on the difference created when the sound fades away.

Continue experiencing the sounds and let them anchor you to the present.  Don’t judge any sound just observe them. If you become panicked or restless, don’t react, just acknowledge the emotion. Do this for the remainder of the recording while becoming aware of the space around you.

Once the recording is complete, lie in silence for a minute or two, and then slowly open your eyes. Observe how your consciousness has changed.

You can also opt for online sessions from different well-known practitioners. They will be able to offer more benefits.

Are tuning forks dangerous?

Tuning forks are not dangerous—unless you consider the loud noises and vibrations they produce to be dangerous.

Why do singing bowls give me anxiety?

The reason for this is that the tone of a singing bowl is so low that it tends to vibrate at frequencies that are close to those of heartbeats, so it can make your body think you're in danger.

Conclusion

Perhaps, the best overall takeaway about sound baths seems to be that they serve as an excellent way to center oneself. #

Everyone could use this in their lives, and I’m all for convincing the world that sound baths are a worthy addition to one’s wellness routine.