With more interest than ever before in alternative wellness practices, it’s unlikely you haven’t heard about the buzz surrounding sound healing.
So what is it and is it worth the hype?
Sound has been recognized for it’s therapeutic properties for centuries, having a rich history and influence on various civilizations across the globe. In the 20th century it experienced a renaissance as a formal healing modality and is now employed not only in spas and wellness centres, but also in mainstream medical applications such as hospitals and medical centres to help reduce stress, alleviate pain and facilitate relaxation.
Sound therapy combines different healing sounds, music and instruments using vibrations to create a beautiful, multi-dimensional experience. There are various methods – chanting, tuning forks, gong baths and singing bowls depending on your need or preference. It is highly effective at triggering our relaxation response, releasing tension from the mind and body and helping to bring balance to our whole being.
There is a lot of evidence supported by science backed research to show that sound therapy does indeed help to manage stress, improve sleep and also reduce anxiety and depression.
Our bodies are rhythmic beings which have many natural rhythms – brain waves, breath rate, heart rate. When we are stressed or unwell these rhythms become irregular. Entrainment (the fundamental principle of sound therapy) involves synchronizing faster and slower rhythms, thus helping to bring our bodies rhythms back into alignment.
Sound can help shift the brain into the meditative states of alpha and theta brainwaves which is similar to what happens to the brain during float therapy.
But did you know that for the ultimate healing experience you can combine the two?
At Athens Rest we can exclusively offer you a sound healing experience while you float. We have custom designed tracks by an intuitive sound healer Julie Fisher which are called Sound Elixirs. We have five different tracks to choose from – Calm, Serenity, Surrender, Relaxation or Rest. Each track is designed to not only relax, but to transition into a different state of being and enhance and deepen your experience. Like floating, the benefits increase with repeated listens.