Singing Bowls, Meditation & Neuroscience
Q: What do singing bowls, meditation and neuroscience have in common?
A: Mind wellness.
Q: What do singing bowls, meditation and neuroscience have in common?
A: Mind wellness.
In enhancing our wellbeing and quality of life, the first thing that we should address is the wellness of our mind. As it happens, mindfulness and meditation are the simplest approaches to maintain and sustain such wellness.
We have been conducting singing bowls sound baths as part of meditation sessions, on-site or off-site of Luxe Nova Lifestyle Studio. From the feedback of the participants, it has started to show us the common effects of the sound vibration, including:
It can stop the mind from wondering off and quieten the cluttered thoughts.
It creates an invisible blanket around the body to help it to slow down.
It relaxes the participants almost immediately, even though they have remained aware of the surrounding environment.
It is energizing – physically and mentally.
Many felt restful after the session.
Indeed, it is satisfying to watch the participants getting the immediate benefits from a session of singing bowls sound bath. At the same time, it has caused me to look further into the findings in neuroscience.
Traditionally, Tibetan singing bowls have been used for healing and meditation purposes. According to the traditional method, there are some specific requirements in the making of a singing bowl. For instance, each bowl must contain 7 types of metals: Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Mercury, Tin and Lead. Each metal is associated with one planet.
It is understood that each planet relates to various parts of our energetic anatomy – for instance, our chakras. Through sound vibration from each metal and the combination of these metals, our body get the healing physically and energetically.
Below is a table showing the relevant association:
It is evident that the sound vibration can filter the cluttered thoughts and calm the mind and body. When singing bowls (whether Tibetan or crystal bowls) are incorporated into a meditation session, the effect and benefit of the meditation are enhanced immediately.
There are tons of research on the correlation between meditation and our brain – in particular, what meditation can do to our brain, so that our quality of life is enhanced.
Here are a few interesting findings about our brain:
Neuroplasticity. Throughout our life, our brain has this amazing ability to reorganise itself by forming new connections between neurons and even growing new neurons in response to thoughts and experiences.
Relaxed egos. A study from Institute of Psychiatry, London, has shown with MRI scans as to how our brain activities change during the meditation. For instance, the front area of brain, which is associated with self-centeredness and egos, becomes relaxed during meditation.
Increased self-awareness. Another group of researchers (associated with Harvard) have also found that after their subjects have practiced a small doses of mindfulness mediation daily over a period of 8 weeks, they have found an increase in the gray matter in the area of the brain associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection. They have also found a decrease in the gray matter in the area of the brain associated with stress and anxiety.
Rewire the brain’s default mode network. The default mode network of the brain means the network of active brain regions when we are awake. When this default mode network is firing up, it means that we are thinking about ourselves, worrying about what others’ perception of “me”, thinking about the future, regretting the past etc. In short, we stop focusing on the moment of “now”. A study from Yale has found that when people meditate, this default mode network is switched off. It also shows that people who meditate regularly have rewired this network, so that they focus more on the present moment.
Supposedly, with these scientific evidence, it should provide more comfort to you (the readers) and encourage you to meditate more regularly.
It is nice if you can meditate for a long time or even go on regular Vipassana meditation retreats. Frankly speaking, this is an ambitious goal and more likely to remain as an aspiration for many people.
The more realistic and achievable goal is to create a new habit of doing meditation regularly. All it takes is to be simple and spend as little as 5 minutes a day to meditate. When you do it regularly (or even better, daily), you will definitely notice and feel in yourself the changes.
Recently, we had the opportunity to do a singing bowls demonstration to the members of the Asia Society Hong Kong. It was a lovely evening to share with so many people the beauty and power of these singing bowls. Although the demonstration was a very short one, the feedback from the guests were similar – especially that they felt relaxed very quickly and some even felt energised.
And the best comment of the night was from a guest who is a professional musician and he called the sounds from these singing bowls “the essence of music”. To me, it was a beautiful encouragement to continue sharing my love and passion.
Contributor: Stephanie Luo
Some snaps from the Asia Society Hong Kong Members' Event
Sound Healing with Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls
How often do we get entranced by a piece of music that are resonating with our hearts and stirring up all sorts of emotions, memories and imaginations?
How often do we get entranced by a piece of music that are resonating with our hearts and stirring up all sorts of emotions, memories and imaginations? Have you noticed how certain sounds resonate in ways that heal and create feelings of wellbeing and harmony?
Sound healing is a form of vibrational healing which works on the energy system of the body in ways similar to homoeopathy, crystal healing, reiki and Bach flower remedies (just to name a few).
My first experience of sound healing took place when I was carrying my baby no.2. At the time, I loved listening to CDs of the sounds of Tibetan singing bowls and the mantras. I found that they were keeping me grounded and gave me a clear mind to connect with my growing bump.
Meanwhile, I had a chance to attend a crystal singing bowls workshop with Martina Lee. It was a moving experience to enjoy the sound vibrations live – and it was so powerful as I could immediately feel how the vibrations were flowing through my body (physically and energetically). It totally brought me to the state of being present, a profound experience that is beyond words.
Article: Martina Lee and Her Journey with Crystal Singing Bowls
In 2014, my husband gave me a set of 12 quartz crystal bowls as my birthday present. He was inspired by hearing the sound of crystal bowls once at the end of a yoga class. He thought of me and how I can incorporate the bowls into my yoga practice and teaching. My journey with this set of quartz crystal bowls has thus began.
Crystals are alive as being active elements energetically! The more I play, the more I connect with them. I have also realised that my set of bowls are also related to 12 chakras of our body.
Each crystal bowl is digitally attuned to the diatonic musical scale – C, D, E, F, G, A, B which resonates with the chakra system – base, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and crown. The bigger bowl has deeper sound. The effect is more grounding and, therefore, it resonates with the physical aspects. The smaller bowl has higher sound pitch. The vibration helps to stimulate the higher chakra system and resonates with the spiritual development.
When I play for a group, they will guide me to focus on what the group needs. Commonly, my clients often find themselves going deeper into the relaxation as well as feeling the peace and expansion of the heart. Some of them may experience vivid dreams. Some use the session to release toxins (emotional and physical) from their bodies. In effect, these sensations are simply guiding us to be with our true self and to gain a deeper understanding about who we are.
One may still question as to how does sound heal people.
Knowledge of healing with sound comes to us through sacred and mystical texts and healing traditions from diverse societies and cultures around the world. Today, as we continue honouring the ancient wisdom, we combine it with the exploration of the new technology to demonstrate that sound vibration is a powerful tool for transformation, especially when being used by therapists and practitioners.
The quartz crystal bowls like mine are the creation of the marriage between the ancient mysticism and modern science. These beautiful bowls are played in a similar way as with the Tibetan singing bowls. They all emit the most amazing healing vibrations.
The effect upon the body and consciousness of the individual is tremendous as we resonate strongly with the quartz energy. The electromagnetic aspect of the quartz emanations precipitates strong responses within the crystalline structures and patterns of the human body.
One can say that the crystal bowl is both a symbol and a tool of the alchemical process, bridging the ancient wisdom with the new high technology like from the past to the future.
As we raise our awareness of and connection with the sensors in our body, we begin to decipher information and communicate more through our whole-body sensory system, instead of solely through our brain. As a result, we become more empathetic and compassionate – and simply be in the present moment.
I invite you to join my regular New Moon and Full Moon Quartz Crystal Bowls Sound Bath at Luxe Nova Lifestyle Studio.
Namaste, Heidy Ho Renard
Contributor: Heidy Ho Renard
About Heidy Renard
Heidy is a mother of two beautiful daughters; a yoga teacher; a reiki practitioner; and a crystal singing bowls healer.
She first discovered yoga in 2003. Since then it has been accompanying her throughout all the joyful or difficult moments in life.
Spiritual name, Shivani, was given when she was studying at Sivananda Ashram, Canada in 2006. She has since then embarked on the new journey of embodying Yoga into her life as a way of being. In this journey, she has encountered numerous teachers and masters. Each has guided her further along this journey and to deepen her awareness of life.
Through her work as yoga teacher and healer, she connects with people at a subtle and yet profound level. It gives her a great joy to see people finding the light in their heart and letting it shine.