As kids, our moms sang lullabies to put us to sleep. They are called lullabies for a reason – they lull us into a deep slumber. Certain sounds and music have a meditative quality and a calming effect on us – this is why we listen to music to relax and unwind or play chants in the morning for positive vibrations. This is essentially the premise of sound therapy or audio healing. The use of sound and music in the wellness industry has been amplified in recent years – especially post-pandemic with people looking for alternative therapy solutions to find solace during turbulent times.
Sound therapy, in its many iterations, harnesses the power of sound to heal stress and anxiety, as well as for physical wellness and relaxation. It uses vibrational frequencies to heal mental, physical, and psychological conditions. “Sound has the power to centre us by relieving stress with its abilities to heal and revive the mind, body, and soul,” say duo Kamakshi and Vishala Khurana, co-founders of The Sound Space, an organisation that is paving the way for innovation in traditional Indian music. With formal training in Indian music and psychology, the duo is deconstructing the complexities of Indian music to offer an enhanced life. “Science has shown that musical training can change brain structure and function for the better,” they say. “It can also improve long-term memory and lead to better brain development for those who start at a young age. Sound has the power to centre us by relieving stress in its strong abilities to heal and revive the mind, body and soul. Everything in the universe vibrates at its specific natural frequency – including every human being. Every system in our body has its own cycle, rhythm, and pulse. An imbalance or disharmony in these cycles can manifest as mental, physical, or emotional imbalances or diseases. Frequencies, sound, and healing vibrations stimulate and balance the body’s Chakra systems, reconnecting us with the natural systems and balancing our mind, body and spirit. It can be said that illness is a manifestation of disharmony within the body, and music has boundless powers to heal physical, emotional, psychological, and psychosomatic disorders.” At The Sound Space, they are redefining traditional Indian music in the education, healthcare and corporate sector through innovative programs, workshops and welfare initiatives because they believe that Indian music is at the epicentre of human wellbeing and holistic living. “Music can be used for the regulation of pain management, stress, heart rates, nervous systems, blood pressure, muscle tension, respiration, and mental and physical illnesses along the spectrum of dyslexia, ADD, depression, autism, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and more.”
The Khurana sisters saw a surge in the number of people trying audio healing since the pandemic. “There were definitely more individuals who were interested and looking for therapies and experiences that could alleviate anxiety and also give them a feeling of wholeness and solidarity.” Shehzan is one such individual who tried sound therapy for the first time in the midst of the pandemic. “I first tried a chakra cleansing workshop when we were right in the middle of the first shock of Covid and the housekeeping responsibilities it came with,” she says. “I didn’t have any time to myself. One evening, I set aside an hour when The Sound Space was holding a live Instagram session for chakra cleansing. I’ve always been sensitive to music and sound, and this gave me the peace of mind that I had not experienced in a long time.”
And just as The Sound Space uses Indian music for healing, audio therapy has several avenues, such as ASMR and immersive sound baths. “Sound works in different ways. Some individuals respond better to ASMR whereas some prefer a whole set-up that includes a sound bath and other relaxing therapies,” state the Khurana sisters. Shehzan went on to try a sound bath after her first and successful experience with sound therapy, post recovering from Covid. “In simple words, it was incredibly relaxing,” she describes. “Each time has left me feeling stress-free, calm, and in a very positive state of mind. Human beings are beings of energy, just like everything in the universe, and the positive energy that sound therapy has brought with its vibrations has been simply amazing. I believe that illness is a manifestation of imbalance within the body, and for me, especially after Covid left me drained of all energy – physical and mental, sound therapy proved to be incredibly healing. I feel calmer, happier and positive in my general outlook.”
A sound bath is an immersive experience that helps you go into a deeper state of relaxation. It involves an expert rimming one or several sound bowls as you lie down and let the calm wash all over you. As the soothing sound takes over, your body surrenders to it and moves into a deep state of relaxation. While this can be experienced at wellness studios and workshops, there are ways to reap the benefits of audio healing within the comfort of your homes too.
Back in the day, people used sound machines that emanated sounds of nature, such as waves crashing or trees swaying, to help them fall asleep – research has found that listening to nature sounds have a positive impact. It boosts your mood and cognitive ability to alleviate pain. Today, wellness apps have replaced traditional sound machines that do the same. Apps such as Calm has an audio library that helps you unwind as you drift asleep. Audio is also being used to amplify physical wellbeing and to improve libido. Audio apps such as Dipsea have a sleep library that guides users to sleep with erotic stories that you can combine with soothing and calming sounds. Kama is another such app that uses audio erotica for sexual wellness.
Audio healing has become a big part of self-care and wellness today, and ASMR continents an integral part of it. Autonomous sensory meridian response or ASMR amplifies mundane sounds like biting into something crunchy or the wind blowing and has become an online phenomenon. Singers like Billie Eilish and Zara Larsson have also incorporated it into their tracks, while Instagram and Youtube are flooded with ASMR artists who have millions of followers hanging on to their every sound. A 2018 research from the University of Sheffield and Manchester Metropolitan University found that subjects who experienced ASMR had “significantly greater reductions in their heart rates when watching ASMR videos, compared to those who do not experience AMSR,” and “significant increases in positive emotions including relaxation and feelings of social connection.”
Whether it is ASMR, an immersive sound bath, or audio therapy via Indian classical music, immersive spaces and apps have made it easy to access these. If you have tried everything from massages to cupping, it is time to experience sound therapy as its praises grow louder in wellness circles. In a noisy world like ours, with negativity, information overload, and now a pandemic, soothing and healing sounds can be a respite.
From virutal workshops to ground events all over the country, here’s a list of five places you can try sound healing at:
The Sound Space
The Sound Space’s dynamic workshops and sessions are crafted with a holistic approach, which aims to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of children and adults. Their upcoming harmony worship includes sound bath, chakra balancing, chanting, and white light meditation. Contact: info@thesoundspace.in
IASH
Academy of Sound Healing offers awareness lectures, sound healing and meditation sessions, training workshops and seminars. Their signature Singing Bowl helps people with a wide range of physical, mental, and psychological disorders to alter consciousness & spiritual enlightenment.
Contact: info@iash.in
Wellness Vibe
Wellness Vibe harnesses the power of music and sound to create a therapy that is a combination of modern cut-edge technology like brain wave subliminal messages, along with the ancient natural healing methods. Their workshops include Naad Yoga and Sound therapy, among others.
Contact: info@wellnessvibe.com
Himalayan Academy of Sound
With workshops in Rishikesh and online courses such as Singing Bowl Therapy, Tuning Fork Therapy, and sound healing workshops, among others, the academy is for therapists and people who believe that harmony of sounds can bring physical and mental peace.
Contact: himalayanacademyofsound@gmail.com
Hairtha Yogashala
Haritha aims to spread in-depth aspects of the ancient healing sciences to every corner of the world. They are reviving the natural essence of wellbeing with the soothing methods of Ayurveda and yoga through their courses, and sound healing is one of them.
Contact: info@harithayogshala.com
Source: gqindia.com
