About Sound Therapy
Video from Angie talking about Sound Baths and a short 20 minute demonstration recorded for a local Wellbeing week in Malvern.
Video from the principle of the Sound Healing Academy who I trained as a practitioner with in 2017. This was a live stream explaining and demonstrating the positive effects of sound healing on anxiety and stress.
.
Sound Therapy is the therapeutic application of sound frequencies and vibrations to the body and mind of a person with the intention of bringing them into a better state of harmony, balance, and inner peace.
Instruments such as the Gong, Tibetan bowl and Tuning Forks have been used for thousands of years to re-balance and tone the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. The vibrations work at a cellular level to help repair the damage caused by stress and emotional trauma.
It is estimated that over 80% of GP appointments are now taken up with health conditions that are directly caused or exacerbated by stress.
Stress in any form (physical, mental or emotional) activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers the release of hormones such as adrenaline (the “fight or flight” response) and cortisol, which directly impacts blood pressure, blood glucose, immune function and inflammation. Continued high levels of these stress hormones will eventually lead to physical and mental dis-ease.
The sounds and vibrations of the instruments used in sound therapy induce a deep state of relaxation by allowing our brain wave pattern to drop down from the busy wide awake Beta state of consciousness into the more meditative patterns of Alpha and Theta (similar to a mild state of hypnosis). This allows a total rest for the physical and mental bodies, calms the sympathetic nervous system and facilitates mind - heart coherence which is essential for a feeling of inner peace and wellbeing.
Dr Mitchell Gaynor, MD - clinical Oncologist and author of the book "The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice and Music"
"As a physician, I have never found a more powerful and transforming healing modality than music and sound"
SOUND & GONG BATH MEDITATIONS
Sound Baths help people who struggle with traditional meditation by giving our conscious mind something to focus on - the gentle sounds being played.
Clients often report having lucid dreams and a feeling of complete bliss and surrender during a sound session.
Some have profound Spiritual experiences and feel deeply connected to God/The Divine . Some receive inner guidance and creative solutions to their life challenges, others just have a very deep sense of relaxation.
Everyone's experience is unique and even every time you have a sound bath will be different depending on your intention and how your feeling physically, mentally and emotionally.
Trust that you will receive from the session exactly what you need on that day.
My personal approach to Sound Baths is primarily for relaxation and connecting with the heart centre , so I deliberately play the instruments gently and intuitively.
What do I do during a Sound Bath? What do I need to bring?
When attending a Sound Bath, you simply lie back and relax ! You are fully clothed with a blanket over you to keep you warm and cosy . You simply let me guide you into relaxation and allow the sounds to wash over you and 'bathe' your whole body. You can leave your troubles behind for the next hour or so and drift on a magic carpet of vibrations.
Bring a Yoga/air mat/sleeping bag to lie on or if you don't want to be on the floor then a garden recliner chair is perfect. You will need cushion for your head and a blanket to snuggle up in. Wear layers so that you can adjust your body temperature. You need to be warm and comfy for the best experience.
Reported positive effects of a sound bath include:
*Reduced stress and anxiety
*Reduction of chronic pain
*Better and deeper sleep
*Helping to 're wire' negative thought patterns and beliefs by creating new neuro pathways.
*Bringing the whole body into a state of balance
*Reduce feelings of fatigue and lethargy.
*Promotes clear thinking and creative solutions.
There are many benefits of the therapeutic use of sound on all levels of the body - physical , emotional , mental and spiritual. It is like getting a vibrational Spring clean!
What should I do after a Sound Bath?
You should keep hydrated by drinking plain water to flush out any toxins your body has released during the session. You should feel very relaxed and calm afterwards so try to take advantage of this feeling of balance to have quiet time afterwards , may be a nice warm bath ,creating something or reading your favourite book - spending time in nature is fabulous as the natural world will help you keep in resonance. You will be surprised how many clear thoughts and inspirations can come to you afterwards if you listen to your inner dialogue and try and remain 'heart centred'.
I would advise staying away from social media , TV and other electronic stimulants as this will help you hold on to the feeling of balance and inner bliss.
If you have any questions or would like to know more please drop me a message. I hope to welcome you to one of my sound sessions soon.
With love
Angie
Contraindications- not suitable for ladies in the first trimester of pregnancy , people with pace makers or other implants , those suffering from serious heart conditions, acute or serious mental health problems or those who may suffer from sound induced epilepsy. If in any doubt please contact me before booking.
NOTE*
Sound Therapy is a Complimentary Therapy and should not be used as a substitute for seeking proper medical advice or attention. I do not claim to 'cure' any forms of physical or mental illness. Sound therapy can assist a person to relax , come into a better understanding of their problems and help support their own journey of self care and wellbeing.
Clip from a private Sound Bath Booking in my Therapy Room in West Malvern
Want to know more?
This is an excellent article written by Devpreet Kaur a well known sound healer and retired pharmaceutical executive:
"When avid attendees of gong baths say why they never miss a session, they often cite stress relief or deep relaxation, but there’s nearly always something they can’t quite articulate; they try to describe something more healing and profound. Beyond the ineffable spiritual benefits, there’s scientific and metaphysical evidence in support of this ancient healing practice.
The gong has been used throughout history as a ceremonial and healing instrument. Sources describe its use in 4,000 B.C. to as far back as 16,000 B.C. Gongs have become more popular in the current high-tech age, as the speed and amount of information has created new forms of stress for both adults and children.
Stress in any form (physical, mental or emotional) activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers the release of hormones such as adrenaline (the “fight or flight” response) and cortisol, which directly impacts blood pressure, blood glucose, immune function and inflammation. Physical labor allows the body and muscles to use the hormones, but despite feeling more stress, most of us spend most of our time sitting. When the nervous system is chronically activated by stress, an excess of circulating hormones create dysfunctions like high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, insomnia, digestive disorders, autoimmune diseases and other maladies resulting from chronic inflammation. Today’s TV commercials touting pharmaceutical drugs to combat these diseases and disorders are overwhelming evidence that our bodies need a break.
The vibration of a gong is a powerful method for reducing stress. Known as a Gong Bath, the gong creates an ocean of sound that is profoundly relaxing; a state which activates the parasympathetic nervous system to balance the over-amped, over-taxed sympathetic nervous system. Water has often been used as an analogy for the rippling effect of the gong’s vibrations, partially because our bodies are approximately 70 percent water and water serves to conduct sound waves. Like ripples created by a pebble skipped onto a glassy lake, the gong’s sound gently reverberates over, around and through the entire body to calm, relax and soothe. Typically, the listener’s heart rate slows, blood pressure drops and breath is restored to its natural rhythm. The gong induces a holistic resonance in the body and a spontaneous meditative state in the mind, resulting in a sense of expanded awareness and wholeness.
The Science of Sound Healing and Gong Baths
Sound Healing has a scientific basis in neuroscience and physics, but there are still many aspects that seem to defy explanation. Our minds and emotional experiences alter our physical state, and in turn, our physical state alters our emotions and mind. Yet only in the past few decades, with the advent of functional MRIs, have we been able to scientifically document that mind-body connection. So, even if the only benefit of a gong bath was relaxation, it is a scientifically valid healing modality.
Dr. Gloria Oberbeck, a Harvard-educated family medicine practitioner, has been a fan of gong baths since 2003. Dr. Oberbeck says, “We know music can change the mood of a person, a group, a whole room.” Special education teachers and sound therapists know that sound and music have profound effects. When nothing seems to get through to an autistic child or Alzheimer’s patient, the vibration of music has repeatedly and consistently created a breakthrough.
As early as the 18th century, German scientist and musician Ernst Chladni demonstrated that sound affects matter. Then the experiments of Dr. Hans Jenny, a Swiss medical doctor and scientist, demonstrated that sound both affects matter and also creates, alters and maintains form, and that differing frequencies produce different results.
In the early 1980s, French composer and bioenergeticist Fabien Maman, along with Helene Grimal, a biologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research in Paris, explored the impact of sound waves on healthy and uterine cancer cells. The human voice produced the most dramatic results—exploding cancer cells and energizing healthy ones. The sound waves of a gong being played for 21 minutes also caused the cancer cells to disintegrate or ultimately explode.
Sound is now being used as an important part of the healing process for cancer patients, as it helps calm the mind and body and assists in the management of pain. The sound of the gong cuts through mental chatter and quickly creates a meditative state and deep relaxation. Dr. Oberbeck cites research saying, “Meditative states have repeatedly alleviated or reversed many disorders and disease states. Many studies show that meditation helps relieve high blood pressure, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of the body are positively affected by a Gong Bath.”
The Metaphysical Benefits of Gong Baths
The principles of sound, vibration and energy flow as healing modalities have been taught in both the East and West. Every wisdom tradition throughout the ages has used the tenets of vibration for healing and heightened states of consciousness. From Hermetic philosophers, Chinese acupuncturists and Hindu sages to Jewish cantors, Catholic mystics, Shamans and Buddhist monks, spiritual leaders knew the profoundly powerful effects of vibration on the nervous system; whether of the human voice chanting specific words (mantras) or instruments creating resonant sounds.
Guru Charan Singh, Ph.D., psychotherapist, business consultant, MEd, MIT instructor, Kundalini yogi and gong master, says, “The gong is a sacred threshold. It is the portal that links the finite and the infinite experience of the Self. As such, the gong is the most sublime instrument of the Yogi. It is a cauldron in which you can create alchemical blends of qualities that open and develop the Inner Self.’”
Gong master and Kundalini yoga teacher, Don Contreaux, who is in his 46th year of gong healing and teaching says, “The sounds from the gong travel from the outer ear throughout the body via the vagus nerve—impacting brain waves, respiratory rate and heart rate. Sound enters the healing equation from several directions: It may alter cellular functions through energetic effects; it may entrain biological systems to function more homeostatically; it may calm the mind and therefore the body; or it may have emotional effects, which influence neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, which in turn help to regulate the immune system—the healer within.”
The wisdom traditions teach that illness is a symptom of imbalance, or dissonance rather than resonance. Sound energy healing focuses on creating vibrations that improve overall health and wellness. Contreaux adds, “Gongs open up your chakras and often release a lot of blocked energy, much like acupuncture or massage can do – it really is a sound massage.”
A gong bath is excellent therapy for depression, fatigue, feelings of separation, loneliness, anger, fear, hostility and many other conditions caused by a lack of balance and harmony in the body and mind. According to Contreaux, “A Gong Bath is the most powerful form of holistic resonance known to man.”
In the simplest terms, the gong awakens innate wholeness and guides the body to a state of greater balance and harmony. A gong bath is as scientifically sound as it is mysterious. It is as other-worldly as it is logical. It requires nothing but receptivity in order to be fully experienced, but it must be experienced in order to be understood. "
Devpreet Kaur, RYT, IKYTA, is a teacher of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, a sound healer and retired pharmaceutical executive. For more information or to contact her, visit DevpreetKaur.com or on Facebook: devpreet.kaur.3 as well as Twitter or LinkedIn networks.
Harmonic Healing Pipes and Sacred Gong played by Angie - Visuals by Dean Marsten