There is something very powerful that has been taking hold in the healing community. It is called sound therapy or sound baths and it is actually an ancient practice, dating back 1000 years. Some people view these as woo-woo, but there is actual science behind the healing benefits and what these sounds do to affect our brainwaves.
To start, I will give a brief explanation of the different types of brain waves:
The Beta brain wave is associated with being awake and alert and focused on a specific task. These brain waves are useful in everyday cognitive functioning.
The Gamma brain wave is useful when we are highly interested in a subject or learning something new. Your brain is engaged and sitting on the edge of its seat.
The Alpha brain wave is associated with being awake but in a more relaxed state. If you have ever practiced meditation, this is the brain wave that is being stimulated during that time.
The Theta brain wave is one of the most comfortable and relaxing brain waves and is associated with light sleep and that state right before you fall asleep or that transitional state between wake and sleep. This is also the state that is achieved during hypnosis.
The Delta brain wave is associated with deep sleep.
Now, how do sound baths and sound therapy affect our brain waves? The instruments that are used in sound therapy, such as singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks and the drum produce specific frequencies that cause the brain to synchronize to that frequency. This is known as the frequency following response. The sounds that are produced during a sound bath will typically cause the brain to move between the Alpha and Theta brain waves resulting in a state of profound relaxation and an altered state of consciousness.
The benefits include deep relaxation, reduced stress and anxiety, improved mental clarity, enhanced mood, pain relief, better sleep, emotional release and more.
If you have never participated in a sound bath, I highly recommend looking for one in your area or purchasing a sound bath in a local yoga studio. It is a truly beautiful experience.
No responses yet