What would you say if someone told you that sound healing and mindfulness go hand-in-hand? They actually do. Although most people associate mindfulness with formal therapy sessions, psychotherapy is actually late to the game, so to speak. The practice of mindfulness has been around a long, long time.
It is not unusual to have one of the main goals of a sound healing retreat being that of teaching participants the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness plays a significant role in meditation retreats, couples spiritual retreats, and even individual sound healing sessions.
A sound bath can be used to help guide the mindfulness experience. Likewise, being in a state of mindfulness can help a person get a lot more out of a sound bath. The two practices perfectly complement one another in ways that are hard to describe without personal experience.
A More Full Experience
Though adequately explaining the complementary benefits of combining sound baths and mindfulness is difficult, the best way to describe it is to say you get a more full experience. Here are just a few of the things we have observed:
- Better Focus – Mindfulness is predicated on the idea of being present in the moment without any judgment. Mastering mindfulness improves focus. Add in a sound bath and you have an anchor for that focus. You can zero in on the vibrations and experience the moment.
- Greater Awareness – Having an anchor for your focus can lead to greater awareness of the moment. As your mind holds to every sound and vibration, you become more intimately aware of both yourself and the spiritual environment.
- Greater Relaxation – Sound healing promotes greater relaxation through carefully chosen vibrations. Mindfulness, with its focus on the here and now, enhances relaxation by encouraging a calmer state with less tension and mental chatter.
- Improved Self-Awareness – One of the goals for mindfulness is to become more self-aware. With sound healing, such self-awareness invites inner exploration. Combining the two can facilitate a deeper and richer inward journey capable of releasing all sorts of emotions and memories as you meditate.
Mindfulness and sound healing work so well together that we encourage combining it whenever possible. It is always best to learn from an experienced practitioner in order to maximize the experience. But even outside formal sessions, mindfulness and sound healing can be practiced at home.
Best Practices for the Best Experience
So, how can you combine mindfulness with sound healing outside of a formal healing retreat? By employing some best practices for the best experience. You might want to schedule at least one individual sound bath session during which you can learn the basics.
Express your interest in combining mindfulness so that you and the practitioner are on the same page. The practitioner will play a variety of instruments, including singing bowls, gongs, and chimes. Meanwhile, focus on the sounds and sensations. Let go of your own thoughts and anxieties.
After that initial session, you can continue with additional sessions or practice at home. We would suggest searching online for guided meditations that incorporate soothing music or sounds from nature. Look for sounds that help you focus. Concentrate on sounds for which you notice a physical or emotional effect.
Finally, always remember that one of the keys to mindfulness is no judgment. Each session, whether at home or with a sound healing practitioner, will be what it will be. Your goal is to be in the moment as you are being bathed with sound. Let the sound guide you along the path of mindfulness. Be content to simply go where it leads you.
