Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
Once dismissed as a fringe wellness practice, sound healing is rapidly finding a new audience among stressed-out Britons looking for ways to switch off.
From crystal bowls and gongs to ocean drums and chimes, sound baths promise deep relaxation through carefully layered vibrations that wash over the body.
Participants typically lie down with their eyes closed while practitioners create a shifting landscape of sounds designed to encourage a meditative state.
The practice has exploded beyond alternative therapy circles in recent years, and sound baths are now commonly offered everywhere from yoga studios to luxury spas and hotels, including Down Hall Hotel in Essex as part of the wellness programmes led by expert Camilla Sheely.
She tells the Daily Mail: ‘The purpose of a sound bath, like other holistic practices, is to encourage positive movement in the body.
‘A sound bath allows you to relax, centre yourself and become immersed in vibration.
‘Some people notice physical sensations during a session. They may feel discomfort in their chest, or find that an arm twitches before suddenly relaxing. They may interpret that as the body releasing tension or a blockage.’
To sceptics, sound baths can seem like peak woo-woo – especially when the conversation turns to how different instruments and frequencies are said to affect the body’s chakras, a concept from ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine that describes spinning energy centres located throughout the body.
Sound healing is becoming increasingly mainstream – meaning more people can benefit
‘The chakras run from the crown of the head down through the throat, heart, solar plexus and towards the root,’ explains Sheely.
‘In everyday life, most of us experience disappointment, grief, stress or negativity from other people. Although we often tell ourselves that we have moved on, those experiences can stay with us physically and emotionally.
‘People naturally use energetic language to describe this. They might say something “knocked them for six”, that they feel unable to speak, or that something has left them feeling heavy or drained.
‘From a chakra perspective, these experiences can knock the body’s energy centres out of alignment. They may become overactive or underactive, disrupting what I think of as the natural flow of energy through the body.
‘The different sounds used in a sound bath are intended to help release emotional blockages and bring the energy centres back into balance.’
But while this can sound alien to those who don’t live a Gwyneth Paltrow-esque existence, there has been legitimate scientific studies into the effects the instruments used in sound baths can have on people’s wellbeing.
In 2016, a team of researchers from the University of California looked at how Tibetan singing bowl sound meditation could affect mood, anxiety, pain and spiritual wellbeing.
Their small observational study of 62 adults found that a Tibetan singing bowl sound meditation session was followed by significant reductions in tension, anger, fatigue and low mood, as well as improvements in anxiety, pain and spiritual wellbeing – although the researchers stressed that larger controlled trials are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
For those who have experienced a sound bath, much of the appeal is simple: it offers an hour away from phone notifications, demands and constant stimulation.
Many participants report leaving sessions feeling calmer, more relaxed and better able to cope with the pressures of daily life.
Thankfully, it’s possible to enjoy a sound bath – and its relaxing effects – from the comfort of your own home, even though Ms Sheely admits you benefit from the vibrations better at an in-person session.
She says: ‘Listening online can still be beneficial because you are hearing the sounds and giving yourself time to relax.
‘I am a big supporter of online meditation for the same reason: it makes these practices accessible. Listening at home is far better than having no access at all.
‘However, being in the room allows you to feel the vibrations and the atmosphere more directly. I often notice a change in the energy of a room by the end of a session, and a transformation in the way people feel.
‘It can also help to step outside your normal environment. Spaces can feel stagnant, and we have all walked into a room and felt that it was dark, heavy or eerie.
‘Changing your surroundings can help when you feel that something in your life needs to shift. Going outside, being on the grass or spending time in a bright, airy space can affect how you feel.
‘When I host a sound bath, I pay close attention to the venue. Down Hall is wonderful because it has high ceilings, plenty of light and a lovely sense of flow throughout the building.
‘If you are at home in a small, dark room with little light or airflow, you may still benefit. But being outdoors or in a beautiful, spacious setting can enhance the experience.’
As sound baths become more mainstream, some of the venues for the events have become increasingly magnificent, taking place in cathedrals, chapels, festivals and historic sites.
For Ms Sheely, the growing popularity of the practice reflects a wider need for stillness in an increasingly noisy world – whether you’re in tune with your chakras or not.
‘People spend so much of their lives rushing from one thing to the next,’ she says.
‘A sound bath gives them permission to stop, rest and simply receive.’
