THERAPEUTIC INSTRUMENTS
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THEIR EFFECTS AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE YOU FEEL
We are all rediscovering our abilities to tune in more to the frequencies around us. As we become more aware into how the world around us and the universe is moving in specific vibrations, tones and frequencies, we are noticing more and more how this affects us mentally, emotionally and physically. Therapeutic sound and instruments are incredible tools of entrainment that all work in a very different way vibrationally; especially in how they allow us to tune in to our bodies to help restore harmony and balance and our natural energy flow. Below is an introduction into each core therapeutic instrument I work with in my sound sessions and a little summary of their sound signatures.
CRYSTAL SINGING BOWLS
ALCHEMY & FROSTED
Singing bowls are unique in sound therapy due to their ability to create sustained and a direct and pure immersive resonance, without requiring any rhythmic and active repetition. The crystal singing bowls are a newer addition to the therapeutic sound worker's toolkit and their specific harmonic energy has made them one of the most sought after sonic tools worldwide.
The classic frosted crystal bowls are made from 99% quartz and the alchemy bowls emit a specific harmonic energy from other elements including precious gems and minerals which make them a very powerful tool for transformation and healing. Clients often refer to their sound as 'angelic' 'otherworldy' 'astral', or 'expansive'.
The purity of the sound penetrates in a perfect frequency and pitch, with each bowl note tuned to 440hz or 432hz; this generates clear, stable and precisely tuned tones which make them particularly effective when targeting specific resonance points in the body, or environment.
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​HIMALAYAN SINGING BOWLS
Himalayan singing bowls are resonant instruments that produce long, sustained tones and have the ability to generate a continuous layered sound, rich in harmonic overtones. They are crafted from a blend of metals which create complex overtone
structures and a dynamic and evolving sound texture. They also produce a warm tone often described as a 'sonic cuddle' and they can maintain a steady frequency for meditative and therapeutic applications. Their oscillations are wonderfully soothing and calming for the nervous system, especially when positioned around the body. When these singing bowls are used in on-body vibrational sound massage, the resonance penetrates deep within, working with the fascia and at a cellular level too - one client has described it as "incredible" "like a massage from the inside out"
THE DRUM
The drum is among the oldest sound healing
instruments, deeply rooted in nearly every traditional culture. Unlike the
sustained resonance of singing bowls or gongs, drums rely on rhythmic
impact to create movement, both physically and energetically. Unlike harmonic
instruments which create immersive tones; drums work through
movement, with their vibrations directly interacting with the body’s natural cycles,
they engage our breath, our heartbeat, and our muscular coordination.
Drums are particularly effective for
grounding & embodiment work due to their percussive nature and how they
reinforce a deep connection to the physical body.
It is a fantastic therapeutic instrument to help
release pent-up tension and emotions and can reset and reprogramme the physiological systems.
While most sound therapy instruments work by inviting stillness and inward
attention, drums introduce movement, pulse, and physicality, also making them
ideal for activating energy, but also releasing it.
GONGS
Gongs produce deep resonant waves that wash over the entire body and generate deep and rich unpredictable layers of sound that shift dynamically as they resonate.
Unlike singing bowls gongs create constantly shifting waves of sound that resist mental pattern recognition. This disrupts habitual thought loops, making them particularly effective for deep mental resets.
A gong is a large, circular metal disc, typically made of bronze or brass, that vibrates when struck. The resulting sound is not a single pitch but a complex blend of overtones and frequencies that expand and evolve.
Gongs are ideal for energetic clearing as their intensity can “shake loose” stagnant emotions or mental blocks. Playing a hand gong over the body is a really effective way to achieve this too.
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