The tradition of using singing bowls for meditation, music, relaxation, and personal well-being dates back centuries. In some Buddhist practices, singing bowls are used as a signal to begin and end periods of silent meditation, as part of chanting phrases, or even to mark the passage of time. In Japan, singing bowls are used in traditional funeral rites and ancestor worship. In fact, you can find singing bowls on altars and in meditation rooms world wide. So what are these singing bowls, and how do they relate to Sound Bath on Somat? Let’s explore in more depth.
How singing bowls are played
Singing bowls are played by striking the rim of the bowl with a padded mallet to produce a bell-like tone. They can also be played by rubbing a mallet around the rim of the bowl to produce harmonic overtones and a continuous “singing” sound. If you’ve ever rubbed the wet rim of fine crystal glass in a circle with your finger, you know what we mean. The subtle yet complex multiple harmonic frequencies produced are determined by variations in the shape of the hand-made bowls. Although you might think it’s easy to make a bowl sing, it can be challenging to produce the really deep and sustained sounds associated with a meditative state without a practiced hand. Compare the two videos below to see what I mean:
A modern take on an ancient tradition
Traditionally made from metal, more modern versions are made from a variety of materials. Here is a video of Meghan Costello Sloan playing a modern crystal version of the singing bowl in one of her Sound Bath sessions..
The marriage of Sound Bath and Somat
The goal of Meghan’s Sound Bath sessions is to create a deeply meditative experience of sound and vibration for healing and relaxation. The goal of my Somat sessions is to improve your body’s ability to relax and heal by using breath and prescribed movements to relieve deeply-held stress. With such similar goals, it made complete sense for the two of us to combine these two methods into a single sensory experience.
Upcoming Sound Bath on Somat Events
In the midst of life’s demands, you owe it to yourself to spend a restorative hour combining two captivating and innovative techniques that will leave you in a most exquisite state of inner peace. Our next Sound Bath on Somat experiences are scheduled for:
- Friday, October 21, 7:30 – 8:45pm YogaBliss on Mercer Island
- Friday, October 28, 7:30 – 8:45pm Aditi Yoga in Fremont
- Friday, December 9, 7:30 – 8:45pm YogaBliss on Mercer Island
- Friday, January 27, 7:30 – 8:45pm Seattle Yoga Arts on Capital Hill
Links to registration are available here.
