8 benefits of using a singing bowl
A singing bowl also known as a Tibetan signing bowl, Himalayan singing bowl or metal signing bowl is a type of bell that produces different sounds and tones when played by striking or swirling the metal bowl using a wooden mallet. Singing bowls have a been around for many years and it was not until the 1970's that these instruments became popular in the western world. Singing bowls were used by Buddhist monks during meditation practices, today singing bowls are used by wellness practicioners including massage therapists, yoga teachers and sound healers. These signing bowls are not just great to look at and listen to they are also said to promote deep relaxation and offer healing. If you are looking to get your first singing bowl but haven't quite decided if you should get one, here are 8 benefits that may just help you decide.
- Relaxation
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Balances the chakras
- Aid the immune system
- May lower blood pressure
- Improves sleep
- Reduces depression
- Pain relief
The process of running the mallet around the bowl and the sound itself which the bowl produces tend to induce a feeling of deep calm and relaxation. This means that singing bowls very much aid the meditation process. If you are having trouble with settling your racing mind during meditation, then a singing bowl might help you to get you into that deep meditative state.
The way in which the sound both focuses the mind and relaxes the body can help to reduce things like anxiety and stress. Because the mind begins to clear as it focuses on the gentle sound, everyday stresses about this and that will tend to fade into the background. In this way, many people use singing bowls to achieve that state of clarity and perspective, as it draws them out of the everyday rush of all sorts of worries and stresses and helps you to see beyond such daily concerns.
Chakras are the seven energy centres within the physical body and it is believed that if any of these chakras are bocked they could result in physical issues. Some people use the singing bowls as they believe that the vibrations help the body and its chakras to harmonise and achieve a state of balance.
The stress hormone cortisol suppresses the immune system. It is said that this stress hormone is responisve to sound and so by reducing the release of this hormone through the vibrations from a signing bowl you can help stimulate the immune system.
A 2014 study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion examined the benefits of a 12 minute relaxation session using a singing bowl compared to sitting in silence. The study found that ther was a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure and heart rate during the 12 minute session with the signing bowl in comparison to the one sitting in silence.
Falling asleep requires you to reduce stress the sound of the signing bowl does just that it helps focus the mind and relax the body and the more relaxed you are the better you'll sleep.
An observational study examined the effects of sound meditiation using a sisnging bowl on mood, anxiety, pain and spiritual wellbeing on 62 participants. It was found that singing bowls can help reduce feelings of tensions, anxiety and depression and increasing spiritual wellbeing. This type of meditation may be a low cost way of reducing depression.
In the same study, the participants noticed a reduction in pain. Stress is known to cuase pain, another study has found that adults who have used sound therapy in the form of signing bowls experieced a decrease in stress and pain. Further studies are being carried out to confirm this.
How to use your singing bowl safely
When you are using your singing bowl, simply take the mallet and gently move it around the rim of the singing bowl, pressing firmly as you do so. Use the full motion of your arm, rather than just your wrist. You will begin to hear the soothing sound and as this happens you can slow down the circular motion. Avoid moving your head too close to the bowl, and don't direct your ears inside the bowl, as the frequencies may be too loud for your hearing if you have your head so near the source of the resonance.
Are there any risks to using a singing bowl?
Some people have suggested that it is best to avoid using singing bowls if you are pregnant. Likewise, if you have a pacemaker, then it is best not to hold one and use it. If however you are attending sound therapy, and they are played from 20 feet away or more, that will be more safe. Medical experts also point out that there can be a risk with singing bowls if they become a replacement for medical treatment for certain pains or conditions. Whilst they may aid the process of healing, adding to your general feeling of wellbeing, they should not be considered a complete replacement for urgent medical care. Rather, they are an additional tool to help you improve your feelings of calm, contentedness and balance.
How to pick a singing bowl
We have a wide range of singing bowls available in store and online. We would recommend that if you are a beginner you should try out a machine made metal singing bowl first, as the machine made bowls are often the easiest to play, and so they are a good place to start. Once you have become confident and comfortable using that kind of bowl, you could try out a hand beaten bowl. These are a little bit more difficult to get the sound out of them, but because they are not completely smooth and uniform, they are able to produce a richer and more nuanced sound.