Have I heard of singing bowls before? Yup. I’ve always thought about them as part of the alternative, yoga-ish, “hippie” wellness class. That’s not a put down. I’ve been doing yoga, or yoga-ish classes and stretches for years. The picture above is my niece, Sara, who is a yoga instructor ( instructor?)as well as a singing bowl practitioner, who holds some great classes over on the west side of Cincinnati at the Carriage House Farm on Saturday mornings. It’s Ashtanga yoga, a farm, nature, all that wholesome stuff. But they are also Lost Bridge Beverage Co., so you can get a beer / cocktail afterwards, which I consider a plus. If you’re in the area you should check it out. It’s a very cool hang….

….but I digress…

Singing bowls. I’ve been looking to hit one of Sara’s singing bowl sessions but haven’t had the chance yet. But just this week, here in beautiful Lancaster Pa., one of our cast members, Theresa, offered to do session after a matinee performance. I attended, but we’ll get into that in a minute.

So, what are singing bowls?

There is debate about the exact origins of the Tibetan singing bowl, although there is some evidence that it may have originated in China sometime around the 16th century BC. Traditional bowls were made of a variety of metals including mercury, lead, silver, iron, gold, and copper. The benefits of listening to the bowls may be related to the ancient practice of sound therapy. Often used by Indigenous cultures throughout the world, sound therapy involves pulsing sounds, clapping, drumming, and singing for ceremonial, spiritual, and health purposes. During the 1970s, people began importing the bowls to North America and Europe. They grew in popularity in the 1990s as a complementary and alternative treatment for a variety of ailments. So they’ve been around for a long time, but very few scientific studies have examined the potential benefits of Tibetan singing bowls, despite their long history of use.

So, how are they used? Thanks for asking….
During singing bowl treatment, you can lie on the floor while the bowls are placed in different configurations. For example, they might be placed around your body, on your body, or in different locations around the room. You can also sit, or recline in whatever way relaxes you. Once positioned, the practitioner will use mallets to strike the bowls, or press the mallet in a circular motion against there bowls rim in a sequence in order to produce sounds and vibrations. In some cases, your practitioner may also include a guided meditation.

A few different theories have been proposed to explain why Tibetan singing bowls might be beneficial. Such theories suggest that: 

• The vibrations that the bowls produce may affect the mind and body
• The sounds the bowls create may impact brain waves in order to induce relaxation
• They may induce the same psychological effects and benefits as listening to music.

Again, there have very few significant studies about the why and how’s of the effects of the bowls.

Some of the benefits of sessions include;

– Stress relief: Some research supports the use of Tibetan singing bowls as a way to promote relaxation and reduce feelings of anxiety

– Improving sleep: Because singing bowl therapy has been linked to decreased anxiety and tension, it may be helpful for improving sleep

– Lowering blood pressure: A preliminary study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion in 2014 examined the benefits of starting a directed relaxation session with 12 minutes of singing bowl sounds. It found a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared to silence before the session.

– Reducing depression: One study linked singing bowl therapy to improvements in mood and suggested that this approach may be a low-cost way to help reduce symptoms of depression

– Balancing and harmonizing the body: Many proponents claim that the vibrations of a singing bowl can produce beneficial changes in the body by “harmonizing” the cells and “balancing the body’s energy system.”

Some have also claimed that that sessions with singing bowls provide pain relief and support stimulation of the immune system. But again, there is very little hard research to support this.

You might want to be cautious about sessions if you are sensitive to sensory input, ie prone to epileptic episodes, or pregnant.

So how was my experience?

 We all sat, laid down, etc. Again, however we were comfortable. (I sat on the floor) and we turned down the lights. The session itself lasted about 20 mins. I think as a way to relax, clear your mind and meditate, it was very effective for me. The tones created by the bowls are fascinating for someone who is musically inclined as the blending of the different tones created by multiple bowls create a whole spectrum of overtones. What it did for me is kept me from getting distracted by other thoughts, which is something I tend to do when I’m supposed to be clearing my mind.

“How was I in the show”?

“What did I mess up / what do I need to fix”?

“What’s for dinner”?

You know, important stuff.

None of that was disturbing my vibe. It was me, my relaxation, my breathing and the sound. To me, it was a very effective “chill” session. If you want to call it meditation, that would work too. For 20 minutes, I relaxed. I was in a room full of people, but didn’t really interact, or even notice them. For 20 mins it was just me, relaxing, focusing on my breathing and relaxation.

Do I know about the long term effects, lowering blood pressure, improved sleep, harmonizing the body, etc? Probably too early to say.

Will I go back if Theresa gives another session, and will I check out my niece’s classes when I get back home?

Absolutely.

Speaking of which, Just FYI..

That’s all I got for now.

Talk Later,

Bob