Sound therapy with the Tibetan singing bowls

Are you familiar with Tibetan singing bowls?

Honestly, I’ve seen these bowls in various photos on the internet, and I’ve heard they are used in meditation and sound therapy, using deep, acoustic vibrations and tones to calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and promote deep relaxation.

Recently, during my short vacation in Rogaška Slatina, I had an opportunity to attend a therapy session with Tibetan singing bowls. Actually, there were two therapies, and it was really amazing 🤩

In a world filled with numerous obligations and stress on a daily basis, the need to slow down has become imperative. Besides hidden beaches, luxury spas, or quiet mountain woods, sometimes the most important journey is the one we make within ourselves.

And one of the ways to achieve balance of body and soul is sound therapy with Tibetan singing bowls…

 

 

🎵 A few words about the history of Tibetan singing bowls

As someone who loves understanding how things work, I had to learn more about Tibetan bowls.

Despite their name, historical and anthropological evidence suggests the bowls originated in the Himalayan region, including Nepal, Tibet, northern India, and Bhutan. Although the exact date of their origin remains unknown, historians and spiritual seekers agree that these bowls have been in use for over 2,500 years.

There are many stories about singing bowls. According to one of them, Tibetan monks and Dalai Lamas used these bowls for an unknown sacred ritual, keeping it a guarded secret through generations.

In the middle of the 20th century, China annexed Tibet, and many Tibetan monks went around the world. In this way, this tradition came into contact with Western civilisation. Travellers, hippies and musicians were mesmerised by the sound of these bowls, and this is how Tibetan bowls began their global journey.

 

 Tibetan bowls and Rainmaker

Traditional metal bowls are made from bronze or bell metal alloys (usually it’s a mix of seven metals). They are shaped via hand-hammering and heating.

By the way, seven metals are connected with seven celestial bodies: gold with the Sun, silver with the Moon, mercury with Mercury, copper with Venus, iron with Mars, tin with Jupiter, and lead with Saturn.

Each bowl has a unique tone and vibration, which depends on its size, shape, and craftsmanship. This gives Tibetan bowls their rich and harmonic sound.

Besides metal, there are also modern crystal (quartz) singing bowls. They are made of quartz and produce a specific, purer, and more focused tone than metal alloy bowls.

 

Rainstick

While Tibetan Bowls produce clean and predictable vibrations, some instruments act differently, such as the rainstick, or Rainmaker.

This stick is a long, hollow tube made of wood or bamboo, originally from South America (Chile, Peru), filled with tiny pebbles or seeds. It creates a perfect sound that mimics the natural, flowing sound of rainfall! The sound of  “water” and cascading pebbles is fantastic and helps you to relax.

 

Sound therapy at the Grand Hotel Sava Superior

After a several-hour journey and a delicious lunch at the hotel restaurant Kaiser, we changed into bathrobes and went down to the outdoor pool of Grand Hotel Sava Superior.

We relaxed comfortably on the deckchairs; we closed our eyes, and the magic of the sounds began…

At first, it was difficult for all of us to relax. Our thoughts wandered; our brains tried to distinguish various sounds, and our bodies were cramped… Bit by bit, while the warm wind moved branches of the surrounding trees, we began to relax.

 

🎶How does sound therapy work?

Sound therapy uses various instruments to produce therapeutic sound waves. It can include Tibetan bowls, gongs and traditional instruments. Sound waves travel through the body and affect different parts of the body on a molecular level, creating various physical and mental sensations.

 

Some people feel a deep physical pulsation, waves of energy flowing through their tissues, and intense muscle relaxation. In short, sound is felt not only by hearing, but also through skin, bones, and internal organs.

You may experience microvibrations, a slight tingling sensation, or waves of heat moving through your extremities (arms and legs), which is a sign that blood and lymph circulation have been activated. You might also feel your body growing heavy or sinking; however, once you completely relax, it will feel as if you are floating.

Consequently, your heart rate naturally slows down, and your breathing becomes deeper, as the sound waves guide your brain into a state between waking and sleep (the alpha and theta states). Another wonderful effect is a mental sense of letting go: as the tension dissipates, your mind begins to quiet down.

Furthermore, if you carry chronic pain or energy blockages in certain parts of your body, you might feel temporary discomfort before the pain eventually fades and the muscles relax. It can also happen that you fall asleep (and snore) because you have really relaxed, which is what happened in our therapy 😀

Of course, all of these sensations are deeply individual. Just relax and let the vibrations and pleasant sounds of the bowls calm you, allowing you to forget about everything else for a moment.

 

Sound therapy with Tibetan singing bowls at the Hotel Atlantida

While we admired the modern and stylish interior of the Boutique Hotel Atlantida, we were mesmerised by the magical sound of an interesting instrument, played by Mateja Bobek, the sound therapist.

It was our second experience with sound therapy in one day 🤩

 

Stepping into the hotel’s softly lit conference hall, the outside world immediately felt distant. Mateja welcomed us with the gentle, beautiful sound of an instrument made from a special type of quartz glass.

The most important thing is its 432 Hz frequency. This is the frequency with which everything in the universe resonates, or the “heartbeat” of our planet Earth. It is believed that this frequency helps relax, reduce stress, and improve focus. Also, it is often associated with the heart chakra, inner peace and emotional healing.

Tibetan singing bowls stood on a long table, creating a mysterious atmosphere. We settled comfortably into our chairs, closed our eyes, and surrendered to the magical sounds of the gong and Tibetan singing bowls.

 

Since I had a problem focusing and keeping my eyes closed during meditation or manifestation, I looked around at my friends. Everyone stayed calm and relaxed, with closed eyes. Well, it is difficult to explain that feeling. I was listening to the sounds of the gong and bowls, and I felt small vibrations in my head, shoulders, chest, and legs. It can not be controlled; there was no pressure, just a pleasant feeling, like floating in some kind of meditative theta state. You can feel your breath while you listen to the magical sounds that surround you.

Then, with her wonderful voice, Mateja began to sing Bebek’s song, “Žuta ruža s Dunava” (Yellow Rose from the Danube)! It was such a surprise, and a fantastic version of a song that, I believe, is familiar to many people from the territory of the former Yugoslavia.

When Mateja, with a final tone, gently signalled the end of the session, the return to a waking state was easy and natural. It seemed to me that the mental fog had disappeared, giving way to a sense of inner peace…

For me, and also for my friends, it was an unforgettable experience.

 

Benefits of Tibetan bowls

Tibetan singing bowls are usually used during meditation, relaxation, and mindfulness practices.
One of the most important aspects of sound therapy is the use of specific frequencies to treat various problems.

Take a look at the main benefits of sound therapy with bowls.
♦ Reduction of stress and anxiety: it calms the nervous system and releases muscle tension and pain.
◊ It lowers blood pressure.
♦ Enhancing relaxation: it stimulates happy hormones, reducing symptoms of anger and depression.
◊ Energy balance: the sound acts at the cellular level. It removes energy blockages and balances chakras.
♦ Improving sleep: sound therapy before bed slows down breathing and prepares the body for deep rest.

 

The healing magic of sound 

So, if your travels lead you through Slovenia and you need a reset from busy life, try sound therapy with Tibetan bowls. You can experience the therapy with Mateja Bobek at  Boutique Hotel Atlantida, or at the Grand Sava Hotel in Rogaška Slatina.

It is an unforgettable experience to give yourself, and it is much more than just a wellness trend. Sound therapy is a return to nature, inner peace, and personal balance that is deeply needed in today’s times.

This therapy turns a standard luxury getaway into an amazing journey of inner reset, proving that the deepest destination you can reach on any trip is a quiet mind.

Have you already had the opportunity to try sound healing, and what are your impressions?
Write to me in the comments.

 

✨ Stay tuned for the new travel stories …