Thursday, May 18, 2017

Sound Baths

Tibetan Ringing Bowl

                If you are one of those people for whom meditation is more torture than tranquility, good news! The sound bath is for you! It's a type of meditation that is great for people who are terrible at meditation. It is actually great for everyone precisely because it is an effortless form of meditation.
          Sound baths are part of the mind/body/spirit wellness movement and are rapidly growing in popularity. A sound bath session typically lasts about an hour and involves the playing of various resonant musical instruments to induce a state of deep relaxation.
          Youthologie is featuring sound baths, starting with an event Saturday, June 24, 2017 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Sound has been used in healing for millennia; and, although it is not clear where the sound bath originated, the Integratron in Joshua Tree, California is perhaps the most famous place where sound bath work has been developed in recent years. Many more practitioners have now come on the scene.
          One of the reasons sound baths have become more prominent is that people are looking for a refuge from the stress and toxicity of modern life with its ceaseless electronics, technology and stream of often depressing information, not to mention the cacophony of traffic, alarms, sirens, phones ringing, landscaping engines and other noise pollution that generally surrounds us all day, every day.  the beauty of the sound bath is there is no way to "do it wrong".  People often feel inadequate at meditating--they find it difficult to quiet the mind and feel they are failing at it. The sound bath removes those obstacles by inducing an almost instantaneous state of deep meditation without requiring any effort on the part of attendees. The experience is virtually always positive and grounding.
          Another advantage of the sound bath is that it can be performed as an individual or a group experience. A group experience is very affordable, averaging $30-$50 per person.
          How does a sound bath work? The human body, with its large percentage of water content, is an excellent conductor of sound. As sound moves through space, the human body resonates with the sound frequencies. Sound has overtones or harmonics which also resonate with the body; and sound frequencies, waves and rhythms are capable of entraining brainwaves. During a sound bath typically brainwaves are entrained to a low (delta) frequency, which is like a state of deep meditation. We also experience delta brainwaves in deep sleep and in states of concentrated focus like hypnosis. Delta brainwaves are known to promote healing. Other benefits include decreased stress hormones, reduced stress, lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, lower respiratory rate, immune system enhancement and in interesting phenomenon whereby delta frequency brainwaves have a tendency to connect or link the right and left halves of the brain.
          What can you expect at a sound bath? As you enter a calm and soothing environment, redolent of aromatic essential oils, you will take off your shoes, turn off your phone and lie on the yoga mat you brought with you. You can also bring a pillow or pillows for your head or under your knees. An eye mask is provided to keep light out, and blankets are available. The experience is never exactly the same, but uses instruments like crystal ringing bowls, monolinas (stringed harps), chimes, shells, drums and tuning forks.  You will begin by taking deep breaths, setting your intention for the session and then just relaxing and allowing your body, mind and spirit to be completely surrounded by the rich ocean of sound. There will be some guided imagery and some vocalization to enrich the experience. The arc of treatment usually begins softly and gradually swells to a fuller wave of sound. the sound undulates in waves, slowly waning and waxing to enchant and delight attendees. Participants often say the experience feels timeless, weightless and euphoric.    
          How should you prepare for a sound bath? Wear comfortable clothing, plan to be in the experience for a total of about 75 minutes and expect to enjoy the experience as you allow the sound massage to open your inner universe.  It's meant to induce a calm state of rest and relaxation. You may be tempted to fall asleep; and that's okay, too.
             What about after the sound bath? You will probably feel the need to drink extra water, and you may urinate more than usual as the sound bath can have a mild detoxifying effect. You may sleep more soundly after a sound bath, and you may tolerate stress more easily.
          Space is limited, so make your reservation now for the next sound bath at Youthologie.
          Phone 919-847-1495

Principles of Sound Therapy

Feeltone Monochord Table

          There is a tendency toward harmony in nature. This is reflected in resonance and entrainment, the principles of sound and rhythm. Every atom, molecule, tissue, organ, being, object, etc. has a natural vibrational motion at its own natural frequency and is associated with a standing wave pattern that has overtones or harmonics. When one object vibrating at the natural frequency of a second object causes that second object to vibrate, this is known as resonance. Entrainment is a type of resonance and is universal.  It is the tendency for two or more rhythmic cycles to synchronize. In other words, two or more objects with an oscillation or frequency become locked in phase so that they vibrate in harmony.  Entrainment is seen in many systems including chemistry, pharmacology, biology, medicine, psychology, sociology, astronomy, architecture and more. Entrainment was first described by Christian Huygens, a Dutch scientist, in 1665. Huygens was working on the design of a pendulum clock and noticed that when two pendulums were placed near to each other, swinging at different rates, eventually they would end up swinging at the exact same rate in unison. These are just a few of the principles or ideas behind sound therapy. Music has the potential to entrain rhythmically, melodically and psychologically.
          Nikola Tesla famously said, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” Einstein further elaborated on vibration, stating, “What we have called matter is energy, whose vibration has been lowered as to be perceptible to the senses.” In other words, everything is made of energy and vibration, and has frequency. Sound therapy dates back to the beginnings of human civilization and was a primary tool of shamanism. Sound therapy is the process of using music, sound and vibration to assist healing and to support wellness. Because sound is vibration, it is “heard” not only with the ears, but throughout the body, in every cell. It permeates our entire being, connecting us to the rhythms and harmonics of the universe.
          Water is a far better sound conductor than air, and the large water content of the body makes it an excellent conductor of sound and vibration. Many studies have demonstrated the health benefits of music, sound and vibration. Music has been shown to lower blood pressure; lower heart and respiratory rates; reduce cardiac complications; increase the immune response; decrease stress hormones; and boost the body’s production of natural opiates. Perhaps one of the more profound effects of sound and music is the ability to synchronize or entrain brainwaves to achieve a deep state of relaxation, similar to that of an experienced meditator. Brainwaves in the delta or theta range have been shown to be associated with accelerated healing.
          To summarize these are some of the theories and demonstrable reasons for why sound therapy works: tissue resonance affects the cells; music acts as a distraction; it lowers stress by causing relaxation and decreasing stress hormones; sound works by breaking the cycle of pain and anxiety; the effects are related to the release of oxytocin, nitric oxide and endogenous opiates, which all lead to a more relaxed state; music has the effect of entraining brainwaves to achieve a more relaxed state; a relaxed state leads to accelerated healing. When integrated as part of a total approach to wellness, music can improve health and quality of life. After all, the ultimate goal of healing is to create harmony out of disharmony.
          I am currently working with sound therapy in the form of the Feeltone Monochord Table and Feeltone Monolinas (which are smaller, more portable versions of the table), all used for meditation and wellness. The Monochord Table is a bed-sized stringed instrument that is used to create a holistic sound massage experience. The person receiving the treatment lies on the resonating chamber
of the instrument, and the strings of the instrument are played to weave an endless-loop sound ocean that vibrates and reverberates through the entire body. The strings have a deep, calming sound with harmonic overtones. Other instruments and sounds such as tuning forks, crystal ringing bowls, bells, Tibetan tingshas (temple cymbals), gongs, etc. can be incorporated to further enhance the experience. Sound-based and light-based treatments that work on the human biofield by affecting acupuncture points and channels, as well as the major chakras can also be added.
          For information, contact Lisa Hogan, MD 
          at Youthologie Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine
          Phone 919-847-1495