The use of music bowls or sound bowls has been around for thousands of years. From the singing bowls found deep in the Himalayas to crystal singing bowls, these instruments are ideal for calming the mind to allow for deep relaxation and many more benefits.
Here is everything you need to know about the magic of sound bowls, including the benefits and most importantly, how to use them.
Background
The practice of using sound to heal has been practiced for hundreds of years all around the world to support ones mental, physical and spiritual health. One in particular is Buddhism, whereby the use of sound is said to be an integral part of calming the mind to reach a heightened state of consciousness. This healing practice is known as Sound Healing or Sound Therapy.
Singing bowls were originally made from various metals such as “panchaloga”, which in Sanskrit meanings a five-metal alloy that includes copper, zinc, iron and traces of gold and silver. These specific types of bowls are commonly known as Tibetan singing bowls.
While the use of metal sound bowls has been used to heal others for hundreds of years, technology has allowed us to use the power of crystals to produce a sharp, almost angelic sound.
The underlining concept of sound healing therapy is the notion that everything in the universe is vibrating at a certain frequency. Therefore, disease may be caused by an imbalance in your body’s natural frequency. Sound healing therapy works by sending specific sound wave frequencies through the body to help bring the specific organ to its healthy resonant frequency. Therefore, restoring your body’s natural balance to help you heal.
Another, more commonly recognised theory, is the use of sound to help reduce stress and anxiety. Sound, which includes music, is in essence a variety of vibrations. When these vibrations move from the sound instrument into your ear, they get concerted into electrical signals, and carried by the auditory nerves to the brain, which we process as sound.
These sound vibrations being processed by the auditory cortex interestingly impact your brainwave frequencies. Using entrainment, the sound helps to facilitate shifts in our brainwave state. The process of entrainment synchronizes one’s fluctuating brainwaves by providing a stable frequency which brainwave actually attune to.
Through the use of various rhythms and frequencies, it is possible to entrain our brainwaves and shift them from our normal beta state (what we use in waking consciousness) to alpha (when we are in a relaxed state), and even reach theta (meditative state) and delta (sleep state).
Therefore, if you are stressed, playing calming music shifts your brainwave frequency to a more relaxed and calmer state. Thus, having a ripple effect of lowering your cortisol levels and allowing you to enter a more ‘rest and digest’ state of being.
Interestingly, research has found that sound therapy can help with numerous neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Depression and even Autism.
Additionally, it can even help with physical effects on the body such as lowering blood pressure, relieving muscular pain, even boost the immune system.
There is obviously more studies needed to establish the full range of sound healing benefits and treatments, but so far it seems very promising.
What type of sound bowls are there?
Sound bowls or singing bowls are often utilized for sound healing therapy. There are many types of sound bowls such as include Naga, Thadobati, Jambati, Mani, Ultabati, Manipuri, and others. They differ in their shape, size, style, tone, quality, and have unique characteristics. Some authentic Himalayan singing bowls from Nepal, Tibet, and India are more than 500 years old. One of the most common sound bowls used are Crystal Sound Bowls or Quartz Singing Bowls.
One of the main reasons practitioners use Crystal Sound Bowls is the belief that our bodies are made of crystalline structures. Therefore, it is believed that crystal singing bowls significantly impact all the organs and cells in your body.
On a molecular level, each of our cells contains silica, which balances our electromagnetic energies. The use of the crystal sound bowl acts as an oscillator, magnifying and transmitting pure tones.
It is believed that our bodies have several energy centres known as chakras. The vibrational sound released from the crystal singing bowls are said to resonates with each of the body’s chakras. By matching the sound produced by the singing bowl with a specific energy of your body is said to help rebalance your bodies energy system back to its normal or optimal state.
What is a Crystal Sound Bowl
Crystal sound bowls or crystal singing bowls are made of natural elements called pure quartz (essentially 99.8% silicon quartz) and sand. By heating the mixture to around 4000 degrees, individuals can mould the quartz crystals into the correct shape and size, which ranges from 5 to 24 inches.
The crystal singing bowls are either clear or frosted depending on your specific preference. Not only is the texture and size variable, but the specific frequency produced by the bowl changes. Using digital technology, manufacturers can alter the sound or frequency produced by the bowls depending on what the individual needs or which energy chakras the practitioner wants to target. When using various sounds or vibrational frequencies together can create the most beautiful harmony.
Each quartz singing bowl is digitally matched to the musical scale – C, D, E, F, G, A, B – which relates to different chakras of your body. Bigger bowls produce deeper sounds that are said to produce a more grounding effect. Smaller bowls have a higher pitch which stimulates higher chakras and are said to resonate more with the spiritual aspect.
Why get a Crystal Sound Bowl over Other types?
It is said that every cell in the human body has a beautiful geometric crystalline structure, which helps your body resonate with the frequencies of quartz crystals. Since they are made from pure quartz crystals, it is said they are more naturally aligned to your body than metal produced sound. Additionally, the various crystal sound bowls produce the most pure, angelic sound ideal for calming the mind and getting to to a meditative state.
The clear quartz singing bowls also are predominantly found in seven different colours, each representing a different chakra or energy system in your body.
Below is a table that displays the various colours, sounds and chakras:
|
Chakra |
Colour |
Note |
|
Crown Chakra |
Violet |
B |
|
Brow Chakra |
Indigo |
A |
|
Zeal Point |
Magenta |
G# |
|
Throat Chakra |
Blue |
G |
|
Thymus Chakra |
Turquoise |
F# |
|
Heart Chakra |
Green |
F |
|
Solar Plexus |
Yellow |
E |
|
Navel Chakra |
Orange |
D |
|
Root Chakra |
Red |
C |
How to Play a Crystal Sound Bowl
Playing a crystal sound bowl is said to have amazing benefits such as calming the mind and body.
Steps to Play:
- Find a quiet and calm space.
- Use the rubber ring to set your singing bowl on or for smaller bowls, simply use your hand
- Grab the mallet or striker and gently tap the outer rim of the bowl
- Glide the mallet around the outer edge of the rim.
- Continue gliding with constant, firm pressure to continue the ringing sound.
- Remember to use light pressure while taping the quartz bowl as they are fragile.
Healing Properties of Crystal Singing Bowls
There are various healing properties, such as helping with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- PTSD
- Dementia
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Individuals with learning difficulties
- Individuals with various behavioural and psychiatric disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Physical aches and pains
- Some cancers
- Reduced Stress Levels
- Decreased mood swings
- Decreased blood pressure
- Decreased cholesterol levels
- Improved sleep
Conclusion
Now that we know the history of sound bowls and the unique benefits of crystal sound bowls, feel free to grab one yourself and experience the healing power of sound today.