Vibrational meditation is a type of meditation that uses sound to promote deep relaxation. This meditation technique typically uses specific sound healing instruments, such as gongs, singing bowls, tuning forks, and even the voice, to create soothing vibrations within the body. In Tibetan, Celtic, and other ancient societies, sound was believed to have healing properties.
These ancient cultures taught that sound vibrations resonate with the body’s energetic field, clearing away stuck energy and bringing your body back to its natural frequency for optimal functioning. It is believed that these sound vibrations calm the mind and body, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote overall well-being.
How to Do Vibrational Meditation
Vibrational meditation can be done alone or in groups. Typically, the participant sits or lies down in a comfortable position. A sound therapist or vibrational meditation teacher uses different instruments or vocal chants to produce harmonious sounds.
The goal is for the practitioner to focus on the sounds, vibrations, and sensations that arise in the body. Listening to the sound over time quiets the mind and helps you achieve deep relaxation.
One common form of group vibrational meditation is a sound bath. In this immersive experience, participants lie down and deeply relax as the sound healer or practitioner plays a myriad of instruments, often including singing bowls or gongs, creating a calming wash of sound. Sound baths give participants a safe space to rest, relax, and restore, while enjoying a community experience.
Benefits of Vibrational Meditation
Below are some benefits of vibrational meditation.
Raises Your Vibration
Research shows that our bodies are composed of energy particles in constant motion that create a living energy field within us and around us. Different factors affect the energy field, including thoughts, emotions, the environment, hormones, and activities. These factors can either lower or raise the vibration of our energy field.
Lower vibrations are associated with lethargy, depression, and disease states. In contrast, higher vibrations are associated with happiness, well-being, and vitality.
You can raise your energetic vibration for enhanced health benefits and improved well-being. Methods to raise your vibration include meditation, breathing exercises, practicing gratitude, enjoying sunlight, and eating nutritious foods. Sound therapy can also raise your vibration. It helps the body and mind to release tension and stress for more harmonious inner vibrations.
Boosts Mood
A 2020 study was conducted to understand the benefits of sound therapy on emotional and psychological health. During the study, 105 participants took part in a 40-minute sound bath meditation.
The study aimed to establish if sound therapy impacted the participants’ mood, heart rate, and stress indicators. The findings showed that sound therapy produced overall relaxation, improved mood, and decreased negative emotions in the participants.
Reduces Anxiety and Stress
A 2016 study by Tamara Goldsby looked at the effects of Tibetan singing bowl meditations and sound baths on human health. Her results showed reduced anxiety, anger, and stress among participants.
Promotes Deep Levels of Relaxation
Some people may find it difficult to reach meditative states despite their best efforts. According to Dr Dave Rabin, a board-certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist, using sound can help you to relax for various reasons.
First, sound provides soothing stimulation, which helps the body to feel safe and to relax into a meditative state easily and deeply.
Secondly, sound impacts the rhythm of our physiology and organ systems directly. There is a natural physiological response in the body to soothing sounds and vibrations, which causes the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure to decrease, resulting in relaxation.
Reduces Distress in Cancer Patients
A pilot study was conducted in an Italian oncology unit to discover the effects of Tibetan singing bowl sound therapy on metastatic cancer patients. The study was built on the premise that sound vibrations are pervasive in the human body, which contains a high percentage of water.
This bodily water transmits sound vibration, which can influence cell metabolism and physiologic processes. The study hypothesized that Tibetan singing bowls could induce well-being in cancer patients.
During the study, 12 metastatic cancer patients underwent 6 Tibetan singing bowl sessions over a period of two weeks. The findings indicated a reduction in anxiety, stress, and arousal. The researchers recommended larger trials to confirm the efficacy of Tibetan singing bowl sound therapy to improve the well-being of metastatic cancer patients.
Balances theChakras
According to Eastern yogic traditions, the chakras are energy centers in the body that carry different frequencies. When the chakras are balanced and restored to their natural frequencies, optimal health and well-being results. Some of the most popular ways to balance the chakras are through meditation and sound healing.
Lower frequency sound vibrations activate the lower chakras, while higher frequency sounds activate the higher chakras. Therefore, a well-produced vibrational meditation session can help to balance the chakras, promoting health and well-being.
Are There Risks Associated With Vibrational Meditation?
Vibrational meditation should be done under the guidance of an expert. When used incorrectly, it can have negative side effects.
For instance, extremely loud noise or intense vibrations can trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. Additionally, many singing bowls come with a warning not to be used for people with metal implants such as artificial heart valves, pacemakers, and coronary shunts. This is because the vibration can cause displacement of the metallic device resulting in injury or malfunction.
Another caution is that some sounds may elicit deep memories, emotions, and thoughts in people with mental disorders such as PTSD. A trained sound therapist and trauma therapist can help people recovering from PTSD to manage any triggers that may arise from sound therapy.
Some sound healing involves placing the instrument directly on your body. If you are pregnant, it is not advised to place the instrument on your belly or back. It should also not be placed on tumors, implants, or artificial joints. If you recently had surgery, the sound device should not be placed near the sutures.
Conclusion
Vibrational meditation is gaining popularity in the modern world. Sound baths and Tibetan singing bowl meditations are some of the most popular types. Various studies show that sound healing can help with stress reduction, anxiety management, relaxation, and optimal well-being, among other benefits.
