What is
Sound Therapy?
Sound Therapy?
What is a Sound Bath?
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Sound baths are a combination of audible sound and felt vibration. During a sound experience we learn new ways of listening and at times our awareness is both externally and internally focused. The instruments you hear will take you on a personal journey which can be likened to any other practice such as meditation, yoga or simple relaxation.
As you settle more deeply into practice, your brain frequency moves towards a state similar to REM sleep where you become both relaxed and alert. During this meditative state we can begin to process underlying thoughts, feelings and emotions. Sometimes this can be challenging as we work through and rebalance held resonant patterns and past experiences. Sound therapy can teach you how to manage your natural stress response (which is the cause of much of our physical and mental tension) and to learn how to relax both body and mind. |
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Through a carefully facilitated sound bath you will be carried from the waking state into a state of ‘non-resistance’. If we listen with an open and relaxed mind, we may enter a state of pure observation where we begin to sense and connect to the ‘stream of life’. This feeling of going with the flow and a very natural state in which you can deeply connect to your own natural resonance.
The type of instruments used in a sound bath and the way in which they are played are very important. In general, the sounds help to relax your mind and body by lowering your resonant frequency. As we listen and feel the sounds, we begin to entrain to their frequencies. This does not mean that we begin to vibrate at the same frequency as the instrument being played (humans are much more complicated than that!) but we do begin to move towards a state more natural to us. When you experience a sound bath facilitated by ‘Earth Resonance’ you will be guided towards resonating more closely with the earth’s frequencies. This is a feeling similar to having been for a walk in nature or better still, walked barefoot upon the earth! |
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In sound baths we also work with natural phenomena such as the seasons, weather, lunar cycles and the position of planets.
These are all frequency based systems and sound is a wonderful way of becoming more mindfully aware of their effects upon us. Full moons are an excellent example of this and as our bodies are largely made from water, we are particularly sensitive to sound and its effects at this time. Sound is a wonderful tool for improved wellbeing and when combined with the power of nature, we can expect transformational results. |
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Deepening our Understanding
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Sound is a wonderful approach to therapy work and it's popularity has increased hugely in recent years. This is great and we now have much easier access to a variety of sound healing modalities and resources. There is however one thing we must consider... although the research into the effects of sound therapy has increased it is still early days and there is lots more work to be done before we unravel all of the secrets of sound. So here I find myself researching and exploring sound therapy in all its forms and the promises practitioners make. Although some things have been proved such as the effect sound has on the autonomic nervous system, there are still many claims that sound therapy 'heals' that are not yet backed by science, but for those who have experience sound in this way, does it matter? Considering that as human beings we are in ourselves literally made up of a symphony of sound and vibration, let us explore this together and wholeheartedly open up to sound and the wonderful effects it has to offer.
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What actually is sound?
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Sound is vibrating energy, it is measured in Hertz (hz). For us to hear sound it must travel through a medium such as gas, liquid or solid and a person with good hearing will be able to hear sound within the range of 20 to 20,000 Hz . The speed at which sound travels varies depending both on the medium it travels through and temperature but at 20 °C the speed of sound in air is about 767 mph (fast but slow compared to light which travels at around 670,616,629 mph!).
In order for us to audibly perceive sound our eardrums must vibrate and this vibration is then transformed into electrochemical impulses which are sent to the brain. We can also feel sound vibration through our body although without being sensitive and mindful this may hard to notice. |
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Sound therapy is a little different from music, it is without rhythm and when played carefully can help us move toward deeply meditative states. Long before modern science made similar discoveries ancient cultures such as the Vedic tradition (1500 BCE) were aware of the omnipresent qualities of sound. Everything in our physical world is made up of vibrating particles and from this sound is produced. It is no surprise that traditions such as the Vedas or even in the book of Genesis developed beliefs around the idea that sound and creation are intrinsic to our existence. However, regardless of belief or cultural tradition, sound and music transcends language and is fundamental to existence. Sound can speak to us without words and has the power to both soothe or excite us. Consider this in the context of the following poem by Zen Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh.
“Words can travel thousands of miles.
May my words create mutual understanding and love.
May they be as beautiful as gems,
as lovely as flowers”.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
May my words create mutual understanding and love.
May they be as beautiful as gems,
as lovely as flowers”.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Who is sound therapy for?
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Sound work is an excellent method of releasing both physical and emotional tension. To be immersed in relaxing and therapeutic sound allows you to be fully present within yourself and has the capacity to stimulate self-reflection and bring an awareness to your own well-being.
Sometimes when we relax ourselves on the mental level we can be drawn to areas of physical tension in the body that had been previously hidden from our awareness. It is only when we stop that we are often drawn to the imbalances in our system. Through regular sound practice this type of therapy can bring continued development to the processing of stress within the bodily system and potentially relieve relating physical symptoms. Although sound is suitable for anyone it is often not recommend during the first trimester of pregnancy or if you suffer from Audiogenic Epilepsy. Sound therapy is not a replacement for conventional medicine and if ever in doubt speak to your doctor first. |
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Building a personal relationship with sound
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Sound is fundamental to our very existence and from the vibrational perspective, the world is sound. It is therefore essential that we do not take this for granted and that we build a healthy relationship with it. Although there is no such thing as a ‘bad sound’ it is certain that some sounds will be more harmonious and balancing to the human system. Some sounds are obvious and can be detected easily by the ear while others require sensitivity or even exist beyond our range of hearing. Often the environments that we work within or where there are larger populations of people we generate sounds which can cause fatigue and dis-ease in our wellbeing; we can call this sound pollution. Unless we are architects we can have little influence our the built up environments in which we inhabit but we can learn to understand our relationship with them.
So what can you do? Often the best thing is to accept things as they are and observe your relationship with the soundscape with which you are presented but you may also like to actively engage in some things that might help such as changing your work or home environment as best you can. In the practice of sound therapy we begin to learn how to notice sounds and their influence over our mental and emotional states. When experiencing a sound bath or 121 treatment we would advise you to see this as a very ‘personal practice’. Treating sound therapy as a reflective practice will allow you to build a greater understanding of your own wellbeing and can reveal deep seated fears or underlying problems that could later cause more serious physical issues. We will discuss how such problems may be released towards the end of this article. |
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How sound affects your mental and emotional states
The Oxford dictionary actually states that vibration is linked to feeling and emotion:
“Vibrations - A person's emotional state, the atmosphere of a place, or the associations of an object, as communicated to and felt by others.”
Here are some key terms needed to understand how sound affects us:
Vibration - the oscillation between two points
Resonance - the production of sound as a result of the vibration of another object
Entrainment - the principle of forced resonance where a stronger frequency brings another frequency to match it
We can think of brainwaves as being like musical notes. The lower frequencies are like the slow rhythmic beating of a drum whereas the higher frequencies are like a high note on a flute. We can also relate this to what we are doing or how we are feeling with slower activities or tired/relaxed states of mind relating to the slower frequency.
Here is an overview of brain frequency and related states:
Gamma waves (38-42 Hz) - this frequency relates to the spontaneous processing of information and is the most subtle brainwave state.
Beta waves (12-38 Hz) - this relates to our normal waking state when we must be alert and functional.
Alpha (8-12 Hz) - this frequency is still alert but much more relaxed and relates to clear, flowing and mindful presence.
Theta (3-8 Hz) - this is a deeply relaxed state relating to meditation and sleep. Here we are withdrawn from the outer world.
Delta (0.5-3 Hz) - in this state we are in deepest sleep and thoughtless meditation.
“Vibrations - A person's emotional state, the atmosphere of a place, or the associations of an object, as communicated to and felt by others.”
Here are some key terms needed to understand how sound affects us:
Vibration - the oscillation between two points
Resonance - the production of sound as a result of the vibration of another object
Entrainment - the principle of forced resonance where a stronger frequency brings another frequency to match it
We can think of brainwaves as being like musical notes. The lower frequencies are like the slow rhythmic beating of a drum whereas the higher frequencies are like a high note on a flute. We can also relate this to what we are doing or how we are feeling with slower activities or tired/relaxed states of mind relating to the slower frequency.
Here is an overview of brain frequency and related states:
Gamma waves (38-42 Hz) - this frequency relates to the spontaneous processing of information and is the most subtle brainwave state.
Beta waves (12-38 Hz) - this relates to our normal waking state when we must be alert and functional.
Alpha (8-12 Hz) - this frequency is still alert but much more relaxed and relates to clear, flowing and mindful presence.
Theta (3-8 Hz) - this is a deeply relaxed state relating to meditation and sleep. Here we are withdrawn from the outer world.
Delta (0.5-3 Hz) - in this state we are in deepest sleep and thoughtless meditation.
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The concept of entrainment was first noted in 1665 by a Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens when he observed how two pendulums swung side by side but at different positions they would gradually move into a harmonious and synchronised swing. This can also be observed when people walk side by side and on a deeper level within our own brains. Brainwave entrainment and change of frequency can occur through physical activity or when we are exposed to external stimulus such as sound. This does not work with two tuning forks of different notes but does in the human system which has a greater range of resonant potential. Humans are rhythmic beings be this the pulse of our heart or the vibration of our cells at the molecular level. When we expose ourselves to sounds that are strong and close enough to us we can be affected physically and emotionally. We must build a healthy relationship to sound and ensure we connect with our natural pulse and rhythm, taking care to avoid load and less complimentary sounds.
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Resonance, Sympathetic Vibration and Entrainment
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Everything vibrates. The air you breathe, your body and even the earth itself vibrate and whether you can hear it or not, it’s still there.
Resonance can be defined as the frequency at which an object most naturally vibrates. If you have a tuning fork that is tuned to 136 Hz when it is struck it will vibrate at this frequency. When you have two tuning forks that are of the same resonant frequency an interesting phenomenon occurs. When one of the tuning forks is struck in close proximity to the other the second ‘unstruck’ fork will also begin to vibrate; this is known as sympathetic resonance. If you attempt to do this with two different forks you will not be able to create the same result. |
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Everything has a natural resonant frequency and humans are no exception. We are a natural symphony of resonance frequencies. This helps to explain why we are drawn to specific sounds, colours, materials and of course music. When we begin to observe our relationship with sound we may begin to notice that it changes over time for example in our teenage years we may enjoy the clang of electric guitars whereas in later years move towards more classical instruments such as the cello. Interestingly this can relate to people as well in that two people may resonate with each other more than they may with other people. Scientifically measuring this is kind of phenomenon is very difficult but the human mind is perfectly capable of understanding this through experience and feeling.
Sound can affect our health and wellbeing. We all know that some forms of vibrational waves are very bad for us such as microwaves but often do not consider the more subtle effects of sound. Consider how the sounds of modern life such as traffic, machinery and the hum of computers or even wifi may affect us? This kind of second hand sound can literally make us feel ‘out of tune’ with ourselves. So what do we do? We develop a better understanding of sounds that are more complimentary to our nature and ensure we expose ourselves to this more than sounds that grate against us. The practice of sound therapy allows you to explore this and bring mindful awareness of sound into your everyday.
Entrainment is when the one frequency is strong enough to influence another to fall into rhythm with it. This can be seen on numerous scales from vibrating cells to the human body moving to music. Consider for a moment how when you hear your favourite music you may begin to tap your foot in time to the beat; you are entraining to the music. This kind of relationship is often very good for us but there are also times when entrainment may have a negative effect. Take for example when the continual exposure to a negative person or atmosphere and how this affects our mood. If such a situation continues this can physically manifest as a feeling which can ultimately lead to a reduction of health and wellbeing.
In sound therapy we a looking to break free from negative patterns and the use of specific instruments such as gongs, in which there is an absence of a distinct rhythm, can help to facilitate this process. We can then apply more gentle melodic sounds to calm and soothe our body and mind. Taking this a step further with a careful and skilled approach we can begin to direct the mind towards a state of relative stillness. If you are experiencing a feeling of ‘stuckness’ in life or any form of negative pattern or habit then a sound bath or 121 sound therapy session could be very beneficial.
For those of you who enjoy Eastern Philosophy there is a lovely passage in the Tao De Ching that expresses the benefits of entraining to the flow of life and it’s rhythms.
Sound can affect our health and wellbeing. We all know that some forms of vibrational waves are very bad for us such as microwaves but often do not consider the more subtle effects of sound. Consider how the sounds of modern life such as traffic, machinery and the hum of computers or even wifi may affect us? This kind of second hand sound can literally make us feel ‘out of tune’ with ourselves. So what do we do? We develop a better understanding of sounds that are more complimentary to our nature and ensure we expose ourselves to this more than sounds that grate against us. The practice of sound therapy allows you to explore this and bring mindful awareness of sound into your everyday.
Entrainment is when the one frequency is strong enough to influence another to fall into rhythm with it. This can be seen on numerous scales from vibrating cells to the human body moving to music. Consider for a moment how when you hear your favourite music you may begin to tap your foot in time to the beat; you are entraining to the music. This kind of relationship is often very good for us but there are also times when entrainment may have a negative effect. Take for example when the continual exposure to a negative person or atmosphere and how this affects our mood. If such a situation continues this can physically manifest as a feeling which can ultimately lead to a reduction of health and wellbeing.
In sound therapy we a looking to break free from negative patterns and the use of specific instruments such as gongs, in which there is an absence of a distinct rhythm, can help to facilitate this process. We can then apply more gentle melodic sounds to calm and soothe our body and mind. Taking this a step further with a careful and skilled approach we can begin to direct the mind towards a state of relative stillness. If you are experiencing a feeling of ‘stuckness’ in life or any form of negative pattern or habit then a sound bath or 121 sound therapy session could be very beneficial.
For those of you who enjoy Eastern Philosophy there is a lovely passage in the Tao De Ching that expresses the benefits of entraining to the flow of life and it’s rhythms.
The Tao never does anything,
yet through it all things are done.
If powerful men and women
could centre themselves in it,
the whole world would be transformed
by itself, in its natural rhythms.
~ Lao Tzu
yet through it all things are done.
If powerful men and women
could centre themselves in it,
the whole world would be transformed
by itself, in its natural rhythms.
~ Lao Tzu
Psychoacoustics
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Psychoacoustics is the study of the perception of sound. Music and sound is powerful stuff and we experience it all of the time. It can affect us emotionally, physically and it even plugs directly into our nervous system. Whilst a baby is growing inside the mother’s womb there is an essentially important process taking place between its brain and the sound waves they are exposed to. The sound of the mother’s voice, her heartbeat and blood flow all create a symphony of sound that helps the baby’s brain to develop healthily. Once a child is born it begins a lifelong relationship with sound. Sound feeds electrical impulses that charge the neocortex of the brain and if we have a healthy relationship with sound then we stand a greater chance of maintaining our own well-being.
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Dr. Alfred Tomatis (1920-2001)
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Thanks to the ground breaking work of Dr. Alfred Tomatis (1920-2001) we have an in-depth and intriguing insight into the power of the human hearing system. Tomatis claimed that the better the range of hearing we have, the more effectively we may function. His techniques have been used to treat auditory processing problems such as dyslexia, learning difficulties, attention deficit disorder, autism and motor-skill difficulties. For more information on how the Tomatis method can be used visit ‘Tomatis Education’ on the web.
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Now let us consider sound on the atomic level. Science states that everything in the material world is made up of vibrating particles. Where there is movement there must be frequency and subsequently we have sound (although at times this may be outside our range of hearing). Sound frequencies can have an effect on one another; we call this ‘sympathetic resonance’. An example of this is when two people walk next to each other for a period of time and gradually their steps become ‘entrained’ with one another. Through the study of Psychoacoustics it has been found that brain waves can be influenced by sound and music (vibration). To put this into context think of how peaceful music can make your heart slow, your mind clear and your body relax before you sleep at night. We would benefit greatly if we became more aware of the power of sound in our daily lives. The world we live in is full of sounds which often affect us in a negative way. Imagine spending your day surrounded by noisy crowds of people, the hustle and bustle of traffic, aeroplanes passing overhead and the constant busyness of the city (these sounds have the power to discharge our system). The environment we live in is shaped by the way we live so think how wonderful it would be to live in a more harmonious soundscape? Through sound therapy people are provided with the opportunity to find peace and allow sound waves to tune them into a more harmonious state of being.
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FILM CLIP: How sound travels through the ear and to the brain (BBC documentary excerpt)
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Feeling sound
We are excellent conductors of sound and we can actually feel this on a physical level. One of the reasons for this is that our bodies are made up of 65-75% water (this varies a lot with age) and itself being an excellent conductor of sound allows vibrations to travel through our bodies with ease. Wonderful research on the effects of sound on water can be seen in the work of Alexander Lauterwasser, whose book ‘Water Sound Images’ provides a stunning insight into this magical world. In the simplest sense an increased awareness of sound through therapeutic techniques such as sound baths brings us back into our bodies and counteracts that feeling of being ‘out there’ in the world or lost in the ‘thinking mind’.
The visualisation of sound is known as ‘Cymatics’. The scientific study of Cymatics can provide an amazing insight into the beautiful relationship between sound and the physical world. The film clip provided here shows Evan Grant presenting some of the key features of this research and how this area of study is ever unfolding.
The visualisation of sound is known as ‘Cymatics’. The scientific study of Cymatics can provide an amazing insight into the beautiful relationship between sound and the physical world. The film clip provided here shows Evan Grant presenting some of the key features of this research and how this area of study is ever unfolding.
WEBLINK: Evan Grant's website containing some stunning images of the effects of sound on water.
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One way in which we physically experience sound is through something called Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), which feels to you like a tingling along your spine, neck and scalp. This is often experienced when we are feeling a sense of pleasure such as when we hear a particularly moving speech or piece of music. I encourage you to read the following letter written by the blind and deaf Author, Lecturer and Political Activist Helen Keller in March 1924. It is her response to listening to Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" over the radio:
“Dear Friends,
I have the joy of being able to tell you that, though deaf and blind, I spent a glorious hour last night listening over the radio to Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony.” I do not mean to say that I “heard” the music in the sense that other people heard it; and I do not know whether I can make you understand how it was possible for me to derive pleasure from the symphony. It was a great surprise to myself. I had been reading in my magazine for the blind of the happiness that the radio was bringing to the sightless everywhere. I was delighted to know that the blind had gained a new source of enjoyment; but I did not dream that I could have any part in their joy. Last night, when the family was listening to your wonderful rendering of the immortal symphony someone suggested that I put my hand on the receiver and see if I could get any of the vibrations. He unscrewed the cap, and I lightly touched the sensitive diaphragm. What was my amazement to discover that I could feel, not only the vibration, but also the impassioned rhythm, the throb and the urge of the music! The intertwined and intermingling vibrations from different instruments enchanted me. I could actually distinguish the cornets, the roil of the drums, deep-toned violas and violins singing in exquisite unison. How the lovely speech of the violins flowed and plowed over the deepest tones of the other instruments! When the human voices leaped up thrilling from the surge of harmony, I recognized them instantly as voices more ecstatic, up curving swift and flame-like, until my heart almost stood still. The women’s voices seemed an embodiment of all the angelic voices rushing in a harmonious flood of beautiful and inspiring sound. The great chorus throbbed against my fingers with poignant pause and flow. Then all the instruments and voices together burst forth – an ocean of heavenly vibration – and died away like winds when the atom is spent, ending in a delicate shower of sweet notes.
“Dear Friends,
I have the joy of being able to tell you that, though deaf and blind, I spent a glorious hour last night listening over the radio to Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony.” I do not mean to say that I “heard” the music in the sense that other people heard it; and I do not know whether I can make you understand how it was possible for me to derive pleasure from the symphony. It was a great surprise to myself. I had been reading in my magazine for the blind of the happiness that the radio was bringing to the sightless everywhere. I was delighted to know that the blind had gained a new source of enjoyment; but I did not dream that I could have any part in their joy. Last night, when the family was listening to your wonderful rendering of the immortal symphony someone suggested that I put my hand on the receiver and see if I could get any of the vibrations. He unscrewed the cap, and I lightly touched the sensitive diaphragm. What was my amazement to discover that I could feel, not only the vibration, but also the impassioned rhythm, the throb and the urge of the music! The intertwined and intermingling vibrations from different instruments enchanted me. I could actually distinguish the cornets, the roil of the drums, deep-toned violas and violins singing in exquisite unison. How the lovely speech of the violins flowed and plowed over the deepest tones of the other instruments! When the human voices leaped up thrilling from the surge of harmony, I recognized them instantly as voices more ecstatic, up curving swift and flame-like, until my heart almost stood still. The women’s voices seemed an embodiment of all the angelic voices rushing in a harmonious flood of beautiful and inspiring sound. The great chorus throbbed against my fingers with poignant pause and flow. Then all the instruments and voices together burst forth – an ocean of heavenly vibration – and died away like winds when the atom is spent, ending in a delicate shower of sweet notes.
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Of course this was not “hearing,” but I do know that the tones and harmonies conveyed to me moods of great beauty and majesty. I also sense, or thought I did, the tender sounds of nature that sing into my hand-swaying reeds and winds and the murmur of streams. I have never been so enraptured before by a multitude of tone-vibrations.
As I listened, with darkness and melody, shadow and sound filling all the room, I could not help remembering that the great composer who poured forth such a flood of sweetness into the world was deaf like myself. I marveled at the power of his quenchless spirit by which out of his pain he wrought such joy for others – and there I sat, feeling with my hand the magnificent symphony which broke like a sea upon the silent shores of his soul and mine.” The Auricle, Vol. II, No. 6, March 1924. Copyright of the American Foundation for the Blind, Helen Keller Archives www.afb.org |
Helen Keller
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Music and health
With the increase in popularity of sound therapy, in particular within the yoga community, one may begin to question ‘how is it actually good for you?’. We have already discussed how sound can make you feel good and relaxed but what does it do to your body? From our personal research it seems that some studies have not been totally conclusive but there was still no denying that the sound therapy was working. The most conclusive evidence is that sound influences the parasympathetic nervous system and conserves energy as it slows the heart rate and allows the body to ‘rest and digest’. The relaxing properties of sound can really help problems such as anxiety and provide an alternative practice for those who might not be able or interested in practicing something like yoga.
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Music Therapy is also another powerful approach to sound work and is a highly respected field of practice. The act of learning an instrument can be tremendously powerful and even aid in the recovery from illness. It has become common for music to be played for patients who suffer from anxiety when receiving treatment or when in pain, this is especially helpful in supporting children. There has also been tremendous success when working with Dementia patients and Youtube videos are common of sufferers regaining themselves and even memories when hearing their favourite music. See NICE or Dementia UK for more information.
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There have been very intriguing studies into the effect of sound on cancer cells. Most notable is the work conducted in 1981 by biologist Helene Grimal and composer Fabien Maman to study the relationship of sound waves to living cells. For eighteen months they experimented with the effects of 30-40 decibel sounds on uterine cancer cells using a camera mounted microscope. They observed that when exposed to sound, cancer cells lost their structural integrity and where destroyed after a 14 minute period. They interestingly found the effect to be more pronounced and faster when the human voice was the carrier of sound. More information can be found on Fabien Maman’s website.
Around thirty years later Professor Hashim Ahmed (Imperial College London) an expert in prostate cancer diagnosis, imaging and biopsy, began to develop the minimally invasive High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. The study uses ultrasound waves to treat areas of cancer just a few millimetres in size (focal therapy). Focal therapy is similar in principle to the 'lumpectomy' operation commonly used as an alternative to a full mastectomy in breast cancer. HIFU can be targeted to tumours just a few millimetres in size, which helps to minimise damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. The sound waves vibrate and heat specific areas of tissue to about 80 degrees, killing the cancer cells within. Hashim’s researchers carried out a 'proof of concept' clinical trial at the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University College London and although requires further development shows great promise in the ongoing battle against cancer.
Around thirty years later Professor Hashim Ahmed (Imperial College London) an expert in prostate cancer diagnosis, imaging and biopsy, began to develop the minimally invasive High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. The study uses ultrasound waves to treat areas of cancer just a few millimetres in size (focal therapy). Focal therapy is similar in principle to the 'lumpectomy' operation commonly used as an alternative to a full mastectomy in breast cancer. HIFU can be targeted to tumours just a few millimetres in size, which helps to minimise damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. The sound waves vibrate and heat specific areas of tissue to about 80 degrees, killing the cancer cells within. Hashim’s researchers carried out a 'proof of concept' clinical trial at the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University College London and although requires further development shows great promise in the ongoing battle against cancer.
Sound and Fascia
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Our understanding of the relationship between sound and fascia is still developing but deserves careful consideration. Fascia is a form of connective tissue which can be found throughout the entire body. It takes many forms but overall it is one continuous and interconnected thin membranous sheet that surrounds and envelops almost everything in the body. To consider this in another form think of the skin inside an orange that holds it in segments; the concept is the same but the human system is vastly more complex and the fascia deeply penetrates even as far as enveloping our individual nerve cells. At a functional level the purpose of fascia is to allow free, gliding movement between adjacent tissues and to provide a course for interstitial fluid (a liquid which surrounds the cells in the body).
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We can consider fascia at the anatomical level but also as a system which provides a complete and interconnected system throughout our entire body. In the context of injury, damage caused to one area may end up affecting another. This is something that is commonly found in Deep Tissue Massage or Reflexology. From a Craniosacral perspective it can also be seen to absorb and maintain tension and trauma, impair tissue function and create patterns of tension and pain throughout the body.
As fascia is richly innervated it serves to supply nerve connections to the central nervous system. In the fascial network problems such as injury, stress and strain feed into the autonomic nervous system and stimulates sympathetic nerve activity. If left to develop these problems can spread deeply into the bodies tissues, nerves and muscles causing patterns of trauma and tension can become ‘stuck’. There are a number of approaches to working with tension such as Myofascial Release and Craniosacral Therapy.
Sound Therapy taps into the Craniosacral approach and explores the body's natural rhythms and tides. In order to enable the release of tension within the body we can begin to engage with ‘tides of sound’ as they move between ‘points of stillness’. We can begin to engage with deep outer and inner listening (both audible and physical) and become mindfully aware of our state of being. Also as we surrender to the flow of sound (this isn’t always easy!) and truly allow things to be as they are (seen with no mental/thinking based distortion) we can become aware of stored tensions and trauma. We become increasingly aware (often practice is required) of points of stillness beneath our pain and tension which in turn allows us to release and allow our bodies natural ability to reorganise and return to our original matrix of health; the key ingredient and instigating factor is…. consciousness.
In order the simplify the above comments for practical application we can use the following formula:
Engage with listening and conscious awareness
Allow, accept and observe tension and trauma
Follow to and from underlying points of stillness
Release and reorganise
This is a system that we apply in our sound therapy work on both a 121 and group level. It is simple but can have profound effects and our wellbeing. It’s beauty lies in how natural the approach is as we tap into our natural ability for self healing. Sound is simple the facilitating factor and as long as our positive intention is present we can learn to help ourselves. It can be particularly effective when working with trauma as our memories of such incidents are stored deep within our limbic system; our emotional brain where we register feelings and sensations. When we engage with sound therapy past memories (good or bad) can be stimulated to rise from deep with our subconsciousness and when we apply the above approach can be worked with and often resolved.
For more information on Fascia we strongly recommend the work of Thomas Myers at www.anatomytrains.com
As fascia is richly innervated it serves to supply nerve connections to the central nervous system. In the fascial network problems such as injury, stress and strain feed into the autonomic nervous system and stimulates sympathetic nerve activity. If left to develop these problems can spread deeply into the bodies tissues, nerves and muscles causing patterns of trauma and tension can become ‘stuck’. There are a number of approaches to working with tension such as Myofascial Release and Craniosacral Therapy.
Sound Therapy taps into the Craniosacral approach and explores the body's natural rhythms and tides. In order to enable the release of tension within the body we can begin to engage with ‘tides of sound’ as they move between ‘points of stillness’. We can begin to engage with deep outer and inner listening (both audible and physical) and become mindfully aware of our state of being. Also as we surrender to the flow of sound (this isn’t always easy!) and truly allow things to be as they are (seen with no mental/thinking based distortion) we can become aware of stored tensions and trauma. We become increasingly aware (often practice is required) of points of stillness beneath our pain and tension which in turn allows us to release and allow our bodies natural ability to reorganise and return to our original matrix of health; the key ingredient and instigating factor is…. consciousness.
In order the simplify the above comments for practical application we can use the following formula:
Engage with listening and conscious awareness
Allow, accept and observe tension and trauma
Follow to and from underlying points of stillness
Release and reorganise
This is a system that we apply in our sound therapy work on both a 121 and group level. It is simple but can have profound effects and our wellbeing. It’s beauty lies in how natural the approach is as we tap into our natural ability for self healing. Sound is simple the facilitating factor and as long as our positive intention is present we can learn to help ourselves. It can be particularly effective when working with trauma as our memories of such incidents are stored deep within our limbic system; our emotional brain where we register feelings and sensations. When we engage with sound therapy past memories (good or bad) can be stimulated to rise from deep with our subconsciousness and when we apply the above approach can be worked with and often resolved.
For more information on Fascia we strongly recommend the work of Thomas Myers at www.anatomytrains.com
Thank you for taking the time to explore this section of our website.
Sound Therapy is an ever evolving practice and therefore we are continually developing and improving our approach.
Sound Therapy is an ever evolving practice and therefore we are continually developing and improving our approach.
