What to Expect From Your First Sound Bath
I experienced my first sound bath at Wildflower Farms in Hudson Valley, NY. I went in not knowing quite what to expect. Of course, I understood the concept of a sound bath, but it was so much more than I expected. Lindsey led my sound bath and explained what to expect, so with her permission, I’m sharing this and encouraging you to try a sound bath for yourself. And no, it doesn’t involve bathtubs.
What Is A Sound Bath?
Sound baths aren’t new. For thousands of years, people from all around the world have used singing, chanting, and musical instruments to reduce stress, increase positive emotions, connect with themselves and their communities, and heal their hearts and minds. During a sound bath, sound envelops and travels through the body. Different instruments, like tuning forks or singing bowls, emit different frequencies that can interact with the human body at the molecular level.
Benefits of Sound Baths
Sounds baths are said to decrease stress, anxiety, self-doubt, and even physical pain. It’s said that specific frequencies can improve different parts of the body and its systems. This also helps to improve sleep, reduce brain fog, and lower blood pressure over time.
I’ve found that sound baths have also reduced the frequency of my often debilitating migraines that could wreck an entire day. What used to happen a few times a month now only happens rarely. After having two in a row before my first sound bath, I went nearly two months without another. The more often I participated in sound baths, the less likely I was to get headaches. I haven’t had a bad migraine in over a year! Sound baths are also great spaces to clear my head. The sound tunes out just about everything, which, for someone who sometimes feels overwhelmed and stressed, is a wonderful perk in and of itself.
Other benefits include deep relaxation (some people fall asleep!), reduced muscle tension, and improved mood.
How to Prepare
Preparing for a sound bath is similar to preparing for a yoga class or massage. Use the restroom ahead of longer sessions so you don’t experience any discomfort or disruptions. Check with the guide to see if you should bring your own yoga mat, blanket, eye mask, etc. Some will provide everything you need (thoroughly cleaned, of course), some require you to BYOC (bring your own comfort). Lindsey provided everything we needed, from blankets, towels, and mats to small pillows and blocks.
What to Wear to a Sound Bath
Wear comfortable clothing. I always recommend breathable organic cotton activewear from brands like Mate the Label, Skin Worldwide, or Purakai. Whatever allows you to comfortably lie flat and relax is ideal. In class, others wore things like yoga pants, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and T-shirts. Bring a water bottle, comfortable socks (you’ll remove your shoes, of course), and anything else you might like to use to be comfortable and cover your eyes. I brought my own silk eye mask.
What Happens During a Sound Bath
Participant(s) will enter the sound bath room, usually a fitness studio or workout room, unless you’re doing one privately in your hotel room, home, or elsewhere. Set up your space in a way that makes you comfortable. You’ll be flat for the duration of the session, unless you decide to quietly stretch or sit up, of course.
The guide begins playing, usually sound bowls, but sometimes rain sticks, tuning forks, and other instruments like gongs and cymbals. Immediately, you’ll feel the vibrations, the sound moving through you. It’s a strange sensation. The sound of the singing bowls Lindsey used during our sound bath was so loud, but it didn’t set off my Apple Watch’s noise warning, which means it really only felt loud. Sound baths aren’t any louder than a regular conversation (60-75 decibels), so you won’t risk damaging your hearing. You’ll know what I mean when you try it.
Sound Bath Aftercare
I find sound baths to be an exercise in remaining present & paying attention to myself. An hour or so of that can be tiring. After, consider having a light meal if you’re hungry, journaling, taking a walk, doing gentle stretches, or taking a nap. There is no wrong answer, and you may feel different each time you have a sound bath. Do whatever feels right.
