In Defense of Sound Bathing

It sounds so wavy-gravy, doesn’t it? The act of lying on one’s back in Savasana, listening to singing bowls, bells, or gongs is definitely not mainstream. A friend refers to the practice as “listening to the air conditioner”. Whatever. While the “music” is definitely an acquired taste, sound bathing is sound complementary medicine.

I perused the ideas behind sound bathing last Sunday, at an event celebrating the Autumn Equinox. Being partly deaf, I didn’t comprehend the explanation given before the bath started. Instead, I lay there and let the sounds wash over me. Once I turned off my rational mind and allowed myself to relax, I was able to exist in the moment. With my eyes closed, I felt as if I was floating; when I opened them to a soft gaze, I enjoyed the earth’s move from golden hour to twilight to full dark. If nothing else, this was a lovely way to move into mindfulness. But, beyond that, I was able to relax more fully. My body settled down; my mind moved towards peace.

Is sound bathing merely complementary medicine? Kidney stones are broken up by ultrasound waves; the technique is also used to create imagery without radiation – hence sonography? Perhaps science will soon find the explanation for what we already know: sound can be used in many ways for healing, some of which we don’t yet fully understand.

Restorative yoga is often a hard sell because it’s a passive form of the practice. It’s hard to believe that we can benefit from not pushing, but much of yoga’s benefits come from the way it activates the parasympathetic nervous system. When we hold certain poses, practice certain pranayama techniques, or meditate, we turn off our “flight or fight” mode, moving into what’s variously called “rest and refresh” or “tend and befriend.”

Rest is an important bodily function. We’re conditioned to value activity, but all of our tissues need time to repair and renew. Sleep is the primary way we do this, but it’s important to bring relaxation into our waking lives as well. As the old saw goes, we are not human doings but human beings; listening gives us a way to simply be, without effort.

While I firmly believe in scientific medicine, I also know that my yoga practice makes a difference. So, too, does sound bathing. There are times when traditional meditation doesn’t work for me, but sound bathing does. Why not vary my practices?

Oh, and by the way: I have found myself meditating to the sounds of traffic or the whine of an air conditioner. The mindset makes a difference. Just saying…..