By Lupita Franco Peimbert

It is Monday night, the beginning of the week. For most people, the week starts with list of things to do and goals to achieve; the wheel must keep going. But not at the Church of 8 Wheels in San Francisco, where for approximately one hour, dozens of people will immerse in silencing the mind by means of a sound bath.

Dressing comfortably, people come in with blankets, yoga maths, and pillows and lie down over the wooden floor, under dim light. It feels spacious, yet cozy. In front of the room there are gongs, Tibetan bowls, candles, a didgeridoo and other instruments, all of which will be played harmoniously and often intuitively by the sound masters. This particular experience is “The Sound Bath,” created eight years ago by Guy Douglas and Simona Asinovski.

Generally, Guy leads the experience, aided by Simona and other musicians. Simona also manages the business part of this venture.

“These sounds are designed to cancel out the mind shatter, allowing you to drop to the zero point of meditation, and that is when you relax. The sounds do all the work for you,” Guy says, adding that “I don’t claim that this does anything ultimately. It is just sound and music. People have their own journey.”

At the beginning of every experience, he asks the crowd “raise your hand if this is the first time you have ever been to a sound bath,” and there is always a good number of hands raised, empirically telling sound baths increasing popularity.

Drawing from millennia-old traditions, this immersive auditory experience continues gaining traction as a potent tool for relaxation, stress reduction, emotional healing, and spiritual connection through meditative states of mind.

“Sound meditation makes possible deep states of meditation that generally are not so easy to achieve on one’s own, says Asinovsky “I was a yoga teacher for seven years and it was still difficult to reach the zero point of meditation. When I was exposed to sound bath I was amazed by the awareness and meditative state it brought to me.”

Ancient Beginnings

The concept of sound as a therapeutic tool dates back thousands of years across various cultures, from the ancient Greeks to the indigenous peoples of Australia. However, the term “Sound Bath” as it is known today traces its origins to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and the Tibetans, who recognized the profound impact of sound on the human psyche. Chanting, singing bowls, gongs, and other resonating instruments were employed to induce states of relaxation, meditation, and healing. Over time, these practices evolved and spread, eventually culminating in the contemporary phenomenon of the Sound Bath.

Instruments

Central to the experience of a Sound Bath are the instruments that produce harmonious vibrations capable of penetrating both the body and mind, such as singing bowls, whose rich, bell-like tones have been utilized for centuries to promote balance and tranquility. The vibrations emitted by these bowls synchronize brainwave activity, leading to a state of deep relaxation.

Gongs, another cornerstone of Sound Baths, generate a diverse range of frequencies that interact with the body’s energy centers, or chakras, fostering alignment and energetic equilibrium. The celestial tones of crystal bowls further enrich the auditory tapestry, their resonances believed to correspond with specific chakras, stimulating healing on multiple levels.

One of the oldest ceremonial instruments, the didgeridoo is a wind instrument made from a hollowed-out tree trunk or branch, usually eucalyptus. With its grounding tones, it has been integrated into contemporary world music, ambient, some forms of electronic music, and sound healing.

Resonance

While Sound Baths draw from ancient wisdom, contemporary science lends credence to their therapeutic potential. The phenomenon of resonance, wherein one vibrating object influences another to vibrate at a similar frequency, lies at the heart of its benefits. This resonance extends beyond the auditory realm, affecting brainwave patterns, heart rate, and stress hormone production.

Research indicates that the deep relaxation induced by Sound Baths can trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, fostering rest and recovery. Additionally, the frequencies produced by instruments like singing bowls have been found to promote alpha and theta brainwave states, associated with heightened creativity, relaxation, and meditative states.

A Sense of Community

Betsy and her daughter have been doing sound baths for about four years. For her, it is not just about relaxing but about having a live community experience. “I like to hear the sound of gongs and bowls live. I feel there is a shared experience of peace, relaxation and togetherness, and I appreciate that part of being in community,” she says.

Emotional and Spiritual Benefits

The benefits of Sound Baths extend beyond relaxation. Practitioners assert that these sessions can facilitate emotional release, enhance self-awareness, and foster a profound sense of well-being. Participants often report reduced stress, improved sleep quality, and heightened mindfulness following a Sound Bath. Furthermore, the auditive journey provides an opportunity for introspection, self-discovery, and spiritual connection.

“The Sound Bath is truly a personal experience. We don’t tell anybody what to experience, we just create the space,” Simona Emphasizes.

“For us, this is not religious and there is no dogma, it is just music and sound, which can be healing and connect you into a deep place inside, but the interpretation of the experience is up to you,” Guy says.

A moment of solace proves not only relaxing but empowering, even if in a subtle way. Sound Bath is an alternative rooted in ancestral traditions, so timely in a modern world filled with busyness.

The Sound Bath is currently providing experiences at the Church of 8 Wheels located on 554 Fillmore St., San Francisco. The next event is on August 23, 2023. You may also find “The Sound Bath” app with a calendar of events and venues to experience this popular activity.