Bathing In Sound
Ever wondered what happens at a sound bath? We speak to Holly Husler about how it works and what you should expect from a session.
By Holly Husler
For someone who’s never heard of a sound bath, how would you describe it?
A sound bath (also known as a sound journey or sound healing) is an experience designed to help you simply slow down, get still, and reconnect with yourself when life might feel a little busy or complicated. Generally, you’ll enter a safe space, you’ll be invited to lie down, and the sound healer might begin by guiding you through some breathing and/or guided meditation to help you settle. Then you’ll be immersed in a bath of sounds.
The healer might use just one instrument, or many, which can include gong, singing bowls, chimes, voice, rain sticks etc. There is nothing for you to do but surrender to the sounds, and allow the healing vibrations to wash over you and through you.
It’s a very personal experience which will feel different each time. You might just feel a few tingles. You might have visions. You might receive ideas and insights. You might relax deeply and connect with inner peace. You might even feel uncomfortable, as you meet something inside yourself that requires looking at. The more you trust and embrace the experience, the more you’ll get from it. Setting an intention before the session is also very powerful.
Holly shows us how it’s done from her home studio set-up.
How can a sound bath benefit us?
Sound healing is a form of meditation. Anything that takes us out of the thinking mind and allows us to drop into the body and breath where a deeper sense of awareness resides, is meditation. In this space, we are able to release layers of fear and worry and stress, and journey back to our centre and our natural state of being, which is peace and harmony. When we connect back to this place, we have more clarity, feel more inspired, receive answers to questions that we’ve been searching outside of ourselves for, and are given a better insight into our internal world and what might need to heal.
“I like to think of the body, mind and soul as an orchestra, with all of the organs, systems, thoughts and feelings as the instruments.”
On a scientific level, we are all just energy, made up of vibrating atoms and molecules. In an ideal world, we would vibrate at a frequency of harmony, where all our cells work and vibrate together to sustain optimal physical and mental health. But in reality, life happens, and stress and anxiety knocks some cells off key or ‘out of tune’, creating disharmony, and eventually, if not treated, potentially dis-ease.
I use mainly Alchemy crystal bowls and voice in my sound baths, and the pure frequencies from these crystalline bowls essentially work to ‘tune’ us back to harmony by shifting the disharmonious cells back into place through use of vibration. I like to think of the body, mind and soul as an orchestra, with all of the organs, systems, thoughts and feelings as the instruments. Sound healing is a tool which helps the orchestra play a beautiful melody again.
This all sounds great, where do I start?
This is where intuition comes into play. If you’re interested in getting some instruments for yourself, I would suggest feeling into what you’re drawn to. Sometimes it feels like the instruments choose you! There is no right or wrong. Most importantly, be mindful of your energy when you play your instruments, as they are channels which will amplify the energy and intention you put into them. Each instrument is a teacher, so be present, tune in and listen deeply when you play.
If you have never experienced a sound bath before, try one out before you invest in all the gear! Sound baths are often hosted at wellness festivals and studios. Holly also runs online sessions every Thursday evening, or if you fancy something more personal you can book Holly for a private session or event you at the links below.
holly husler
From performing original pop tunes at the London O2 stage to an audience of 20,000 people in her girl-band days, to singing healing mantras and playing magical instruments to seas of sleeping yogis at events, festivals and studios across the globe. Find Holly leading sound journeys around the world; from Swedish spa hotels to Spanish retreats, and from the London Design Museum to boutique studios.
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