What are singing bowls?

Singing bowls belong to a group of acoustic instruments – idiophones. Their characteristic feature is that they generate non-harmonic multitones. Therefore, they are instruments which are manufactured using traditional technologies while maintaining repeatability of alloy and valuable acoustic parameters. Depending on the bowl types and sizes, they contain from 5 to 12 bronze components and other metals. The bowls which I use have certificate of relaxation and therapic quality.

Where did the singing bowls come from?

The sound of singing bowls has been known since ancient times. One of the first descriptions of them can be found in the work “ 10th Book of Architecture” which describes the usage of resonant dishes for medical and acoustic purposes. Singing bowls are derived from different cultures, such as: China, Thailand, Tibet, India, Japan. Currently, their usage is also observed in Western Europe.
 

How singing bowls affect our body?

Scientific research has shown a positive impact of sound_healing on the human body, incl.
reduce stress

• removal of toxins from the body from extracellular spaces
• tensions elimination
• facilitating the rehabilitation process in the area of joints, especially the spine and wound healing
• stimulating effects on all meridians and individual body organs (Table 1,2,3)
• improvement of metabolic processes and intracellular respiration
• stress reduction
• life motivation increase
• discovering new passions for life, which has an invaluable impact on efficiency in everyday life and professional work
• eliminating problems with concentration, breath, backache, neckache, headache and insomnia; overcoming struggle with constant fatigue, fear of making decisions, so-called "occupational burnout"

1) It is worth to analize the sound and vibration and its impact on our body. We can find instruments whoch human may feel uncomfortable because of the sound and their strange squeak. The research done by polish scientists Halina and Marek Portalscy from Politechnika Poznańska. For many years they analized how sound impact and  affect of the singing bowls on our body. They research brain synchronization, different frenquencies. They showed basic mind states which were shown in table 1,2,3.

Tab. 1 Analysis of sound propagation on the body

Reference: H.M. Portalscy, „Misy dźwiękowe, właściwości i zastosowania”, p.73

Tab. 2 Selected brain sync frequencies

Reference: H.M. Portalscy, „Misy dźwiękowe, właściwości i zastosowania”, Poznań 2017, p.75

How does it work?

The sound of bowls, gongs and other acoustic instruments affects the body in multiple dimensions during the session. The secret lies in the frequencies of multitone components which hitting creates a gentle vibration which relax the whole body. These sounds are fully auditable and our system can reproduce the sound inside the body which relaxes and unwinds . Sound_healing massage improves mood. A person who has a sound_healing session takes unconsciously diaphragmatic breath, often smiles at himself/herself and simply falls asleep, relaxes the whole body, shuts down his mind and stop racing thoughts.

How long does a session last?

Regular session usually lasts around 90 minutes. It might happen that the duration of the session is extended to 120 minutes because a person who is massaged will fall asleep. It depends on individual condition of a person attending the meeting. It is appropriate to take time for a massage 1,5 hour.

In what position do we lie during the session

A person lie on a gym mat, covered with a blanket, with a pillow under his head and with bolster under the knees. This is a starting position, most often chosen by people who are massaged with sound_healing. However, it is also possible to lie on your side, on your belly or other convenient position. It is recommended to lie is quite similar position as we sleep or to begin from starting position on your back and adapt position to your needs during the massage.
A comfortable outfit helps at work: sweatpants/ leggings/ sport T-shirt/ sweatshirt/ socks.

Synchronic massage (for two)

Two people lie on separated gym mats. They should be people who know each other as family, friends, acquaintances. Moreover, they should want to experience deep relaxation together and, at the same time, be in sound_healing sync with each other.
A person lie on a gym mat, covered with a blanket, with a pillow under his head and with bolster under the knees. This is a starting position, most often chosen by people who are massaged with sound_healing. However, it is also possible to lie on your side, on your belly or other convenient position. It is recommended to lie is quite similar position as we sleep or to begin from starting position on your back and adapt position to your needs during the massage.

A comfortable outfit helps at work: sweatpants/ leggings/ sport T-shirt/ sweatshirt/ socks.

Group session

Before starting sound_healing simple meditation exercises with elements of yoga are done in order to synchronize a group. Focusing on exercises helps to enter the deep relaxation phase, full breath and empty your mind. Then, as during one-to-one session, participants move to the next stage which is lying. A person lie on a gym mat, covered with a blanket, with a pillow under his head and with bolster under the knees. This is a starting position, most often chosen by people who are massaged with sound_healing. However, it is also possible to lie on your side, on your belly or other convenient position. It is recommended to lie in quite similar position as we sleep or to begin from starting position on your back and adapt position to your needs during the massage.

A comfortable outfit helps at work: sweatpants/ leggings/ sport T-shirt/ sweatshirt/ socks.

In which aliments is the sound_healing the most effective?

Gentle vibroacoustic stimulation with proper usage of bowls works for a few more hours or days. Researchers have noticed positive effects in the following cases:

• improvement of blood circulation and regeneration processes
• positive changes in psyche
• people after strokes or brain
• aphasia
• at work with disabled people
• at work with elderly people
• at work with autistic children
• at work with disabled children who need surgery or rehabilitation
• chronically ill people
• in therapy of multiple sclerosis patients with serious psychological problems
• faster wounds healing
• stress and pain relief (after only 2-4 treatments), beneficial changes in arthralgia, rachialgia and migraine headache
• positive changes in tension and mobility of joints
• lightness and torpor (in places of greater stiffness and after high doses of drugs, painkillers), spreading warmth or even heat, vibrating
• stronger urine stream, better comfort (after 2-3 treatments). PSA parameter was observed to decrease from 5,5 to 3,7 ng/ml after 10-13 treatments
• clicking in ears (disordered), disappearance of tinnitus, improvement of hearing after ear's inflammation
• entering the deep relaxation phase during the sound_healing and better sleep as a result
• brighten skin and smoothen facial features
• body and biofield harmonization

To get more information, please check out point number 3

5-minute commune with sound_healing becoming apparent in manifestation of emotions. It causes a decrease in the level of hyperactivity, expressive aphasia, helps people who trouble falling asleep and with low self-esteem. Positive effects of bowls usage are also visible in palliative care helping participants to overcome their fears, get closer to the depths of their own insides, getting lightness and inner relaxation.
Idiophones are used in educational and therapeutic programs, both in trauma centers and public, medical and educational institutions.

4) Are there any contradictions?

Yes. Some of them are:

• a pacemaker (cardioverter). It has a built-in battery and a device is implanted under the skin near a heart together with electrodes which read morphology. When the gongs and bowls are hit, occur vibrations which may cause disruptions of device's work.
  During my session there was the one person who left the room while playing. Later, it turned out that she was a few days after the electrophysiology procedure (ablation).
• Burger's disease
• Raynaud's disease
• a woman who is from one to three months pregnant

My own observations?

I can observe that the sound works and has a great impact on our body and mind. First of all, it relaxes the mind, stop thinking, turns off analyzing, eliminates tensions in the body and reduces accumulated stress. When talking to people who have experienced sound_healing, they say they have reached deep relaxation, defused tensions, and especially took their mind off, stopped analyzing behavior, personal moves or life plans and problems. My own observation allow me to conclude that sound_healing massage improves metabolism. The skin gets smoother and smoother. People who take part in the session often fall asleep and they wake up as if they were new born with new ideas for life, they have less pain after fractures.

Main Benefits of Sound Healling Massage in my opinion:

- improves sleep

- lowers blood pressure

- reduces stress

- reduces depression

- normalizes mood swings

- improves metabolism

Who can benefit from sound_healing relaxation?

In fact, everyone who feels that they can no longer cope and needs something other that alcohol, drugs and other stimulants to relax. People who have migraines, who are overworked but it is also helpful in order to reduce stress for people doing sports.

References:

1. It is worth analyzing the sound, vibration and impact of music on our body. There are instruments that squeak and make a man feel uncomfortable. This has been studied by researchers – Mrs and Mr Portalski from Poznan University of Technology, who have been dealing with the analysis of the sound distribution of bowls on the human body, selected frequencies that affect brain synchronization and highlight basic mind states for many years. More in tables No. 1,2,3.
2. More information about the physical properties of sound bowls and sound propagation analysis can be found in the research of H.M.Portalski scientists; G. H. Zimny, A.W. Weidenfeller; Maria Anna Pabst.