Good Vibrations
Music as medicine? Can we heal and calm through the use of sound?
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I have always loved music. I have memories of being very young, maybe 4 years old, recording my voice singing songs from the Mary Poppins soundtrack in the kitchen while my mum cooked dinner. I have always loved music’s ability to take you somewhere… to tell a story. Music has the power to uplift, unite, enhance, transport and evoke. Think about those milestone moments in life… first kiss, summer road trips, graduations, break ups, weddings, funerals. Quite often these experiences are sprinkled with sonic nostalgia, their sound tracks etched in our minds for a lifetime.
As a musician and yoga student, I find myself drawn to mantra and chanting. My western ears excited by the trill and warble of the ancient Sanskrit Vedic intonations. I am often transported by beautiful voices and vibrational instruments used in yoga settings. I enjoy the light, inspiration and interest they bring to my heart and mind. I like that this kind of music challenges me to move out of my “head” and into my “heart” or my “feeling”. It requires a letting go, a vulnerability and an opening up that can be quite profound.
Using mantra or vibrational tones as tools to aid relaxation and promote healing has become more common and accepted by mainstream healing modalities. Dr. Herbert Benson, professor, author, cardiologist, and founder of Harvard’s Mind/Body Medical Institute describes the scientific benefits of prayer, chanting, relaxation and various relaxation methods in his book The Relaxation Response. Benson explains that regular practice of the Relaxation Response can be an effective treatment for a wide range of stress-related disorders.
Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, a New York oncologist and Clinical Professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornel University, and author of The Healing Power of Sound states that:
“If we accept that sound is vibration, and we know that vibration touches every part of our physical being, the way we understand sound is heard not only through our ears but through every cell in our bodies. Sound enters the healing equation from several directions: It may alter cellular functions through energetic effects; it may entrain biological systems to function more homeostatically; it may calm the mind and therefore the body; or it may have emotional effects, which influence neurotransmitters (a chemical substance that is released at the end of the nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, causes the transfer of the impulse to another nerve/fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure) and neuropeptides (any of a group of compounds that act as neurotransmitters), which in turn help to regulate the immune system-the-healer within.”
If we now know that everything has a resonant frequency, then in relation to the human form, our bones and organs all possess a different resonant frequency, holding their own form of consciousness. If one part of the body isn’t working optimally or feeling good, it would mean the vibration is out of tune, so to speak. When a body is healthy, every cell and organ is creating a harmonious resonance with the entire being.
The idea of music being medicinal is nothing new. One of the first documented crystal singing bowls can be found over 4,000 years ago in China. Ancient civilisations of India, Asia, Africa and Europe, Indigenous Australians and Native Americans practised using sound to heal, and to achieve balance from within. Nearly every culture has appointed sound to uplift, harmonise, destroy or create something within the community or the individual.
In the Tibetan culture, bells, chimes, metal bowls and chanting are the foundation to spiritual practice and the belief system. Native Americans, Aboriginal leaders and shamans use vocal toning and the repeated creative rhythm from instruments made from nature to purify and balance the spirit. In Ancient Egypt, the priests knew how to use vowel sounds to connect to their energy centres (or ‘chakras’ in Sanskrit), introducing the theory of a direct sound resonance relationship to specific parts of the body.
Quartz crystal bowls use specific vibrations that align with each chakra, and each chakra relates to an individual physical and energetic centre. Eva Rudy Jansen published a book called Singing Bowls, where she documented the effect of Tibetan metal bowls. She recorded the waves produced by the bowls and found that they had a comparable wave pattern to the alpha waves produced by the brain which, in turn, created a deep sense of relaxation and inner space.
Quartz crystal singing bowls, along with other forms of sound therapy, purport many benefits, including: stress release; shock or trauma release; creative and conscious expansion; memory and intuition enhancement; inner and outer alignment awakening; aura cleansing, boosting and balancing; and an increase in our abilities to love, forgive, trust, heal and grow.
Incorporating the right music, or some mindfully selected ‘good vibrations’ into your own personal wellbeing regimen can enhance your yoga practice, bring soul to your housework and nourishment to your heart. If you are someone who finds it difficult to relax or find stillness, calming music such as nature sounds or crystal sound bowl vibrational tones are a wonderful anchor for a busy body and mind.
The best way to explore these ideas is through your own experience. So whether you join a crystal sound journey session, find a meditation or calming yoga playlist online, or simply lay on the beach with your eyes closed and listen… Why not try using the power of sound to create space for relaxation, concentration and mindfulness in your life.