Singing bowls, a guide on how to use them
Singing Bowls have been used in several studies to investigate their benefit as sound therapy tools. Sound therapy is a popular alternative medicine treatment that has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of illnesses.
Sound therapy can be used to treat neurological disorders, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. It's also a good way of treating anxiety, stress, depression, mood disorders, and developmental disabilities. In rehabilitation settings for traumatic injuries and mental disorders, sound therapy is frequently used.
Sound bowls are used by gently tapping the bowl with a mallet and then circling the bowl with varying amounts of pressure and speed to create different sounds. Sound bowl healing works by eliciting prolonged sounds that emit varying vibrational frequencies from the bowls. Some singing bowls are made of metals that resemble church bells, while others are made of crushed crystals.
The singing bowls, whether metal or crystal, can also be filled with water while being played. The singing bowl's musicality is soothing and can induce a meditative state. Stress levels are reduced in a meditative state, which can improve hormone levels, blood pressure, and even blood sugar levels.
Mood disorder symptoms may also be reduced in this state. Meditation also has the effect of increasing mental awareness as well as inducing deeper sleep. Furthermore, the sounds emitted by singing bowls enable the listener to benefit from sound frequency healing.
According to sound healing experts, each part of the body has its frequency. As a result, sound frequency healing allows the body to return to a healthy state by harmonising any out-of-sync frequencies.
How to use singing bowls
1. If a practitioner is doing the session:
You will be lying down on the floor with the bowls in one of several configurations during singing bowl therapy. They can be positioned as follows:
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on different points on your body
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around your body
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around the room (if multiple people are doing the therapy), with at least one bowl near your head
The practitioner will then strike or circle the bowls in a specific sequence, creating sound and vibrations.
Singing bowls may be used with or without guided meditation.
2. If you are doing it by yourself:
We'll concentrate on the two most popular techniques for playing a singing bowl: striking and rimming. Of course, you'll need a singing bowl, as well as a mallet or striker and a suitable resting spot for you and your singing bowl.
The process of striking is fairly self-explanatory. You'll hit the side of your singing bowl with a wooden or felt-padded striker. A high-pitched, metallic sound can be created with a wooden striker. A felt-padded mallet, on the other hand, will produce a richer, softer, warmer sound. It's crucial not to strike your crystal singing bowl too hard! If you hit it too hard, the crystal bowl will crack or break !!!
We advise that you keep your singing bowl steady by placing a cushion, ring, or mat underneath it. You may also hold the singing bowl with your non-dominant hand. If you're deciding to hold it, please ensure it's on top of your flat palm. If you're wearing rings, take them off or avoid making contact with the bowl's bottom or sides, as this may cause unnecessary vibrations and alter the sound.
Rimming, which is a little more complicated than striking, can be done with a leather-wrapped or wooden mallet. When it comes to holding the mallet, find the position that feels most natural to you. Some people prefer to keep the mallet at an angle as if writing with a pen, while others hold the mallet with all five fingers as if stirring something in a pan. This is the method that allows your singing bowl to actually sing! Please be patient because you may have to circle the bowl several times until it starts making sounds, but don't worry—it'll get easier over time!
Apply constant pressure when rotating the mallet clockwise around the bowl's edge. Be gentle, take your time, and don't rub too hard. Allow the sound to develop gradually rather than all at once. This should result in a lovely, relaxing sound to meditate to.
You won't become a master overnight, just like every other new skill, so keep practicing! Playing your singing bowl regularly will increase your general well-being as well as increasing your ability to play your singing bowl.
Some people, however, should avoid using singing bowls.
So here are some general warnings:
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People who are allergic to certain types of metal should avoid putting the bowls on their bodies since singing bowls are usually made of metal.
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Pregnant women should avoid singing bowls — even though the vibrations from the bowls are weak, they may have negative effects, especially if they’re placed on the body.
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People with epilepsy should also avoid this form of sound therapy because in rare cases, the music and vibrations can both cause seizures.
Check our range of sound healing instruments!
Hope this information is helping you and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us!
My Love to you,
Elena xoxo