Sound Baths

Sound as a therapy is not new but has been around for as long as the human race has been able to bang a drum, use the voice or play a musical instrument. The use of sound or tone for therapeutic use has gathered momentum in recent years as more research into its application has been completed and published. Science now supports the ancient belief that all matter comes from vibration and physicists have proved that the physical world is made up of different and complex frequencies of vibratory energy. 
Using sound as a complimentary therapy certainly has much going for it and is useful in all areas of our lives, as once you are immersed in the vibrations it touches all levels of our being from the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Simon Heather, principle of the College of Sound Healing has a succinct explanation of what sound does and states that – “Sound healing is the therapeutic application of sound frequencies to the body/mind of a person with the intention of bringing them into a state of harmony and health.” 
To distil this further, each bone and organ right down to the minutest cells in our body has a resonant frequency, put these altogether and you get a whole cacophony of subtle frequencies all vibrating together a bit like the instruments in an orchestra.  Often if a part of the body or mind or emotions is out of kilter, it can affect the rest of the body and we become out of tune within ourselves and display signs of dis-ease, stress, depression, fatigue and a whole host of other symptoms. With sound it is possible to bring the body and mind back into harmony and wholeness.  
At a sound bath you are asked to lie down on a mat with your eyes closed, with a cushion for your head, a blanket to stay warm and you will be ‘bathed’ in the sound waves of various instruments including, gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, drums, tongue drums, alchemy crystal singing bowls, the voice and various percussion instruments. As the powerful vibrations and harmonics wash over you, the brain perceives the layers of sound as white noise which induces deep relaxation, altered states of consciousness and helps to release tensions and blockages within the body. 
Many people have reported a feeling of weightlessness and experience seeing different colours dancing behind shut eyelids. Others feel pain or tension releasing in different parts of the body, or a tingling sensation in the arms and hands, all of which are signs that the sound is working its magic at the very deepest levels. It is usual to emerge feeling revitalised and rejuvenated afterwards and this can last for several days afterwards.  Normally people also sleep very deeply after a sound bath. 
On Friday 4th October, the editor, Fiona, was invited to try this therapy through a sound bath. It was a very positive experience and I can appreciate everything that Petra has said here. Having never experienced sound therapy before, I didn’t know what to expect and so along with four other ladies we entered the Yurt and lay on the floor which was cosy with cushions, some ladies had been before and had brought their own sleeping bags or blankets to keep themselves warm. Petra explained the process and we all settled down and although it was a little strange to begin with, but during the experience I felt enveloped by the sound and bathed in the sensation and relaxation that it brought. I experienced a shift in my inner self that has made me feel rejuvenated and think it is an experience that can work for many people. I will certainly return for another session. Thank you to the ladies and Petra for an interesting and lovely evening.
Petra holds regular public and private sound baths including one to one SoundScans in her Yurt in Queniborough and also on the last Thursday of every month at the Parlour at Roots Farm Barkby Thorpe. 
For more information please contact – petragalligan@ymail.com or check out her blog at soundwiseuk.wordpress.com or search for Soundwiseuk on Meetup. Vouchers are also available to purchase.