Sound Baths As a Natural Stress Reliever & Healing Modality

The Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Sound & Vibration.

Most of us know that a nice hot bath is great for stress relief.

But the bath I’m talking about today isn’t filled with water & bubbles…

It’s filled with healing sounds & vibrations!

Now, if you’ve heard of “sound baths” before, you might know they have a reputation for being a little…“woo-woo”. 

But the truth is, the benefits of sound baths are actually rooted in science! 

And, I’m all for a little “woo-woo” if it’s evidence-based 😉 

So, let’s chat about them!

First, What is a Sound Bath?

A sound bath involves immersing yourself in the sound & vibrations of musical instruments, typically played by someone who is trained in, or at least familiar, with sound healing. 

Oftentimes, sound baths are offered at yoga studios, where people set out blankets on the floor and close their eyes as someone plays music in the middle of the room, or up at the front. 

It’s a therapeutic practice meant to promote deep relaxation, relieve stress and depression, and rejuvenate your mind, body & spirit. 

It’s truly a whole-body listening experience! 

If you’re not familiar with the science behind sound and healing, this may sound sort of funny to you! But if you think about it, we’ve been using this type of healing for centuries.

Sound & Vibration as a Natural Stress Reliever & Healing Modality.

Healing and vibration are really just… music!

Australian aboriginals played music to heal people when they fell sick, and they’re not the only ancient group to have done so.

Even today, music therapy has been proven to restore lost speech, improve invasive procedures, aid pain relief, and improve the quality of life for dementia patients. 

Pretty cool, right?!

To be clear, music therapy refers to a lot more than a sound bath. But the healing benefits of both are rooted in the same science, called “sound healing,” which shows that musical sounds have a profound healing effect on the body.  

So, how does this work?

Certain sounds and vibrations bring the body into a state of deep relaxation. And it’s thought that while in this restful state, the body’s natural healing abilities are activated on a cellular level.

So, What Are the Proven Benefits of Sound Baths?

Now that you understand some of the science behind sound baths, let’s take a closer look at the specific healing benefits. 

1. Relieves stress, depression, and anxiety. 

As I mentioned earlier, sound baths send the body into relaxation mode and a restorative state. In this state, your heart rate slows down and your blood pressure lowers, giving you a sense of calmness. This is why sound baths are a natural stress reliever, and can be helpful for both depression and anxiety. 

2. Improves mood and mental well-being. 

In this study, it was found that people who attended a sound bath felt less tension, anger, and an overall more positive mood. Because of these findings, it may also be helpful for improved sleep. And there’s a mountain of evidence on how getting quality sleep supports your mood and mental health. 

3. Reduces physical pain.

People who participated in this same study ^ found that they experienced less pain after the sound bath. It’s not clear as to why, and more research is definitely needed to explore the physical effects of a sound bath, but these results are exciting nonetheless!

But beyond these proven benefits, people in various alternative healing communities rave about the way they feel after a sound bath!

Potential benefits that have been reported include:

  • Increased focus & energy
  • Improved sleep
  • Feeling rejuvenated

Sounds good, right? 

What to Expect During a Sound Bath.

I don’t know about you, but I love trying new things like this!

So, if you’re ready to give it a shot, here’s some helpful info to get you started. 

Sound baths can take place in various settings, from museums to music festivals, but the first place I’d look is a yoga studio near you. 

If you don’t see anything listed at your local yoga studios, try typing in “sound bath” + your zip code into Google, and I bet you’ll find several options 😉 

As far as what you’ll see when you show up, some of the instruments include… 

  • Crystal singing bowls. The frequencies produced by these bowls promote deep relaxation. 
  • Chimes. Its sounds can help lower your heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and restore balance to the nervous system.
  • Gongs. This can slow down our brain waves, putting us in a meditative state. 

Sessions are generally 60-90 minutes long, and you’ll want to wear comfortable clothing. Some yoga studios let you use their blankets & props to get comfortable on the floor before the session begins, but if not you’ll want to bring those items (blanket, small pillow, etc..) with you.

Sounds Baths at Home.

If you’d rather experience a sound bath in the comfort of your home (where we can do almost anything these days ;)) consider trying a sound bath virtually by searching for videos online!

You’re likely to experience natural stress relief & other wonderful benefits, although it isn’t exactly the same as being in-person, where you receive the healing benefit of vibration. 

Another way to get the full experience at home is to go the DIY route by purchasing a crystal singing bowl and mallet. You can find guided videos and instructions online through a quick Google search. 

A Natural Stress Reliever Worth Trying!

While I don’t advise sound baths as a replacement for proven medical treatments, I do believe they offer a wonderful way to lower stress & promote wellness. 

If you decide to give it a try, be sure to let me know your thoughts. 

I love hearing from you!

Happy Patients

I have had back issues most of my life. Since starting treatments with Dr Greg I have had no more issues. It's such a relief to be able to be physical at the high level I want to be. I am able to maintain wellness by seeing Dr Greg on a regular basis. Thank you Dr Greg!!

Michael L.

Hello! I just want to say that you are truly a healer! After leaving your office last Monday, I was more able to breathe, truly breathe - after having suffered all weekend to take a deep breath due to a "rib out of place" OK - if you say so....all I know is that, though I continued to have a bit of pain in my upper back and neck for a day or two, I could take wonderful, glorious deep breaths thanks to your treatment. Thanks again for all you do! Even if I do make many sound affects while you are treating me - "OUCH!!! Hmmmph!! Ughhh!! Really???" I truly appreciate your healing touch....

MMW

I have had Parkinson's Disease for 8 years.  I have developed arthritis in my back and hips. The stiffness of the Parkinson's and the arthritis has caused me a lot of pain. Because of that unrelenting pain I was unable to exercise. Exercise is an important part of pain management for Parkinson's.  Since I have been seeing Dr. Krapf I am feeling much better and his care has allowed me to begin exercising again, which has improved my overall well being. In the past I have been treated by physical therapists and orthopedists. Dr. Krapf's chiropractic manipulations have had an amazing impact on my health and happiness. I highly recommend Dr. Krapf to anyone who needs excellent chiropractic care and the many alternative therapies he offers. I would say he is magical!

When my friend received excellent care from Dr. Krapf, she recommended him to me. I have had gastrointestinal problems for nearly 50 years that have recently been diagnosed with celiac disease with lactose intolerance. All that, including unrelieved stress had made me unhappy and unhealthy. Today I am a different person with the help of Dr. Greg. The Gastro issues are practically nonexistent, my stress levels have plummeted, and my body is changing. I am so grateful for Dr. Greg and his healing hands.

Mary Ann L.

Our family have been patients of Krapf chiropractic for a few decades. We have several success stories archived. The most recent event involves our youngest son who is completing his senior year of high school. He has been a patient of Krapf Chiropractic (KCA) since birth. He has been an avid soccer player since the age of four and has sustained numerous injuries over the years. Dr. Krapf has successfully assisted in every recovery.

Most recently, he began complaining of his feet hurting while playing soccer. Both feet hurt - particularly the balls of his feet while running and cutting. He came to Dr. Greg with his complaint as this was seriously affecting his game. Dr. Greg evaluated the situation and decided a foot scan should be done. The finding was dropped arches. My son was fitted for orthotics. They arrived within days and he wore these as directed. Within a few short weeks he is now playing full games pain free.

SC

I first called Krapf Chiropractic when my back was so bad that I couldn't get up off the floor. It's been a blessing to have Dr. Greg help me with my overall wellness and health! I find this to be a place where you are not a number and everyone cares. Mollie is always cheerful and reminds me to come. Erin is always smiling and helps relax me when I'm in pain. I would not be functioning if I did not have Krapf Chiropractic to keep me going. As I get older my appreciation deepens, especially when I see people around me who are suffering with back problems. If they only knew how helpful this is. I believe Dr. Greg treats the person not the symptoms. Thank you

Debbie B.

I've been lucky to have exceptional health care from the beginning. At the beginning, seventy-six-plus years ago, Hugh Rodgers brought me into the world in mother and dad's second-floor bedroom in our dairy farm home. Hugh's son, Hugh, Jr., practiced with his dad and beyond caring for my parents, he, also, cared for hundreds of others and me. Roughly forty years ago, a friend suggested I make an appointment with Richard Krapf for help with back-pain. Richard treated the pain that, often, was debilitating, and on Richard's death, his son, Greg became the second second generation to help me from one place to another. I'm grateful to Hugh, Hugh, Richard and, perhaps, most of all, to Greg.

N.C.

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