Sound Meditation: Your Relaxing Playlist for Stress Relief

Remember how you get goosebumps when you listen to your favourite songs? Or when you experience something new that taps to your heart? Trust us, sound meditations also fit into the same category with respect to how they align your mind, body and soul and make you experience something that goes beyond the scope of your appreciation for the music.

What is sound meditation?

Sound meditation, also known as "sound healing" or "sound therapy," is a type of mindfulness meditation technique that utilizes the power of sound to make your mind focused and promote healing. Unlike traditional meditation practices that require silence or guided visualization, sound meditation immerses you in deep sound vibrations, creating a symphony of healing frequencies. This practice allows you to meditate with music, connecting with the rhythm and vibrations of the universe.

The science behind sound meditation

Depending on our levels of consciousness, whether we're awake or sleeping, our brain works at different frequencies. According to the entrainment theory, which underlies sound meditation, our brainwaves start resonating with these sounds which help our brains to relax and function better. You tend to feel calm, clear headed and more creative. Not only this, certain vibrational sounds promote healing and well-being. The sound of silence meditation is a technique where you listen to the quiet sounds around yourself to be more aware and focused in the present moment.

Benefits of sound meditation

The therapeutic effects of sound meditation are vast:

• Stress relief: Meditating with music, especially with the soothing tunes of sound meditation affect your brainwave frequencies in such a way that can significantly cut down cortisol levels in the body, leading to stress reduction. Sound therapy with vibrational sounds from instruments like singing bowls create a tranquil environment, allowing you to find peace and relaxation.
• Better sleep: The power of meditation increases when it is combined with sound meditation. This can be understood by the calming effects of sound therapy which help you relax and transition better into sleep. For example, listening to om meditation chanting or other tracks and sounds for healing purposes help in relaxing the mind and body, preparing it for a restful night.
• Enhanced well-being: Regularly practicing sound meditation, especially with the harmonious tones of singing bowls or the vibrational sound of om meditation chanting, can induce feelings of happiness, gratitude, and contentment. The vibrational sounds from these practices resonate deeply which align our energies and also promote a sense of balance.
• Physical healing: The advantages of sound, especially sound healing therapy are not just limited to producing benefits for the mind. Certain frequencies, often produced by meditation bowls or singing bowls, can stimulate the body's natural healing processes. This aids in the process of pain relief and recovery, and boosts your overall physical health. Moreover, the singing bowls' benefits extend to producing therapeutic frequencies that promote healing. Listening to sound healing tracks can further enhance these therapeutic effects.

Also read: Is it safe to meditate to regulate periods?

Dealing with annoying sounds during meditation

As the name suggests, sound meditation mostly focuses on harmonious and calming sounds. It's not uncommon for practitioners to encounter distracting or annoying sounds during their sessions. It may ahppen sometimes that distant hum of traffic, the ticking of a clock, or the chatter of your family members can seem to be too disturbing for you during meditation. However, with the right approach, they can be integrated into the meditation process:

• Acceptance: The greatest immediate relief to any situation stems from acceptance. Instead of resisting or getting frustrated with the sound, accept it as part of the present moment. This acceptance can transform the sound from a distraction to a point of focus during meditation.
• Incorporation: Use the sound as an object of meditation. Focus on its qualities, its rhythm, its pitch, and its variations.
• Better concentration: Challenge yourself to remain undisturbed by the sound, using it as a tool to increase your focus potential and more aware of the present moment.
• Shift focus: If the noise disturbs you a lot while meditating, change your focus and shift it back to your primary object of meditation, whether it's your breath, a mantra, or another sound.

Also read:

How to do meditation at home?

Group meditation vs solo meditation: Which is better?

Should you meditate after eating or before?

Tools and techniques in sound meditation

Sound meditation employs a variety of tools and techniques to create a holistic healing experience:

• Singing bowls: The foundation of sound healing lies on singing bowls which are made from crystal or metal. When struck, they emit resonant tones that correspond to the body's chakras or energy centers. The sound healing benefits of these bowls are vast, from opening the blocked chakras or energy centers in your body to promoting overall well-being. The widely known meditation bowl, in particular produces frequencies that resonate with specific energy centers, facilitating balance and healing.
• Gongs: Gongs are popularly used instruments in practice that produce long lasting sounds. They take you to deep meditative states which makes you feel peaceful and rejuvenates your spirit.
• Rattlers and rain sticks: For a long time, rattlers and rain sticks have been used by Shamans and healers. This sound meditation produces scertain tunes that remind us of the nature, such as the gentle sound of rain or the rustling of leaves. When we listen to this, it helps us feel not only relaxed but also firmly rooted and connected to the Earth.
• Chanting and mantras: The power of meditation is amplified through mantra chanting. Om meditation chanting, for instance, involves the repetition of specific sounds or phrases, like "Om" or "Aum." Om being the universal sound resonates with the universe's frequency which increases inner peace and makes you understand your emotions better.
• 7 Chakra Sounds: The human body comprises of seven different chakras, each with its distinct sound frequency. Chanting or focusing on these sounds can activate and harmonize these energy centers for varied purposes:

1. Root chakra: "Lam" grounds us, connecting us to our foundational energies.

2. Sacral chakra: "Vam" makes you more creative and emotionally strong and balanced.

3. Solar plexus chakra: "Ram" makes you more confident and aligns with personal power.

4. Heart chakra: "Yam" taps into your love, compassion, and empathy.

5. Throat chakra: "Ham" governs improves your communication skills and sense of self-expression.

6. Third eye chakra: "Om" makes your more intuitive to see things that aren't visible on the surface level.

7. Crown chakra: "Silence" or "Aum" connects you to the divine and universal consciousness.

Also read: How to know which of your 7 chakras is out of balance?

• Binaural beats: Binaural beats are no less than auditory wonders. They show how sounds can do amazing things when incorporated into meditation practice. When two slightly different pure-tone sine waves are presented to each ear, the brain thinks of it as a special beat. Depending on the frequency, these beats can induce relaxation, focus, or even deep sleep, showcasing the advantages of sound in meditation.
• Meditation silence music: Meditating to soft, ambient music, often termed meditation silence music, offers an inherent sense of peacefulness for meditation practitioners. This technique allows the mind to drift into a state of peace and tranquility, sharpening focus and promoting emotional healing and strengthening resilience.

The ancient roots of sound healing

Sound healing's roots can be traced back to ancient civilizations like Egypt, India, and Greece. These cultures understood the power of sound and vibration and used chants, mantras, and instruments in their healing rituals. Ancient texts, including the Vedas and the Bible, have references to the therapeutic use of sound.

Sound baths: A deep dive

A sound bath is a different type of collective sound meditation practice. Here, the practicipants are required to lie down, shut their eyes and focus their mind to the peaceful medlodious tunes of vibrational sounds. The session involves gongs, singing bowls, and chimes, creating an environment where one can meditate with music.

Sound bath can be connected to sonic massage. As the sounds rise, the body starts vibrating and healing with the sound frequencies. It's an experience where the practice of meditation converges with the sound healing therapy.

For centuries, singing bowls have been used as instruments to foster healing properties. The sounds produced from these bowls take you to a state of relaxation where your thoughts stop wandering and your mind feels calm. When you combine it with Om meditation chanting, the experience becomes even more spiritual and grounding.

To feel deeply rejuvenated, calm, peaceful and firmly connected to your inner sense of being, immerse yourself in the meditate experience of sound bath.

Sound healing with Level Supermind

You don't have to go to a meditation center to begin your journey of sound meditation. Here's what you can try from Level Supermind:

Sound meditation: This meditation by Palga Rinpoche helps you alleviate stress and spread a current of peacefulness throughout your body through calm abiding meditation technique.

Nature sounds: Meditate with nature sounds to make your distraction your focal point and take this enhanced concentration to your everyday life.

Sound bath: Immerse yourself into the vibration sounds of gongs, singing bowls, and chimes to feel more open and stress free.

Final thoughts

Sound meditation enhances the power of your meditation meditation practice by opening the knots of stress and tension, guiding you to navigate through life's challenges with the vibrations of the sound and helping you recharge your energy and establish a deep connection with yourself. So, go ahead and set on a journey of healing and nurturing your soul.