In general most people don't really think of themselves as stressed.    They are just feeling tired, their shoulders may feel a bit tight, they are constantly over thinking, their mind not ever switching off', sleep doesn't seem to be as deep or restful as it once was.  These feelings and physical signs are put aside as, 'its just been busy' 'its just life', 'just getting older'.

But very often what's happening underneath is something much simpler, their nervous systems are overloaded.

More and more we live in a world that constantly asks for our bodies to stay alert to everything.  Constant screens wanting out attention, lots of responsibilities, content thinking, planning and emotional loads.  The nervous system is always working hard quietly in the background.  When it isn't getting enough rest it will start to show up in small ways.  The 'feeling on edge', 'the tired but feeling wired, so cant relax', 'feeling a bit anxious' or just not feeling quite like yourself anymore.

Your nervous system as one main job, which is to keep you safe, its a biological response, so when it has been on high alert for too long, it forgets how to fully relax.  This is where sound can become such a beautiful support.

Your body listens before your mind does.

When we feel stressed we often will try to fix it by trying to logically think our way out of it.  Telling ourselves to 'be more positive' or 'just calm down'.   But the nervous system doesn't really respond well to the words, but more to sensation, the rhythm of the breath, gentle movement, the feeling of touch, the vibration of sound.  This is why somatic yoga works, and why slow breathwork works and why sound work at such a deep level.

Because sound isn't just something you hear, it is something your whole body feels.  During a sound bath the vibrations  from the bowls gently move through your body signalling feeling of calm and safety to your nervous system.

So what's happening when you listen to sound

When we are really busy, feeling overwhelmed, or worried, the nervous system is often in what’s called “fight or flight”. This is the part of the nervous system that prepares us to deal with danger,  even if the danger is just deadlines, constant screen stimulation, noise, or just too much to think about and its so hard to really rest.

What is so lovely about sound is that it helps guide your body into the opposite state, a one where calm, deep rest and repair can happen.  Crystal sining bowls encourage slower brainwaves, the same ones when we enter into deep relaxation/mediataion and sleep and when in these stares our brethren will naturally deepen, and tense muscles will start to soften.  The nervous system has changed its sate and is often why after a sound bath people will say they feel calmer and more relaxed.

Why sound baths feel so different to meditation?

When we mediate we often try to use the mind to control the body, by trying to clear the thought or breathing in a certain way, for some people this works beautifully, , but for many (I know I am one) especially when already feeling overwhelmed or worried, it can feel like more effort.

Using sound is different as there is nothing for you to do.  You dont have to do anything, or concentrate or feel like your getting it wrong.  All you do is get as comfy and cosy as possible and let the vibration of the sounds do the work for you.  It meets your nervous system in the language it understands, feelings and sensation, not thinking. That’s why even people who “can’t meditate” often find sound baths surprisingly easy and deeply calming.

Why rest is so important

In our  busy world , resting is often seen as something you need earn after you’ve done enough, and even then rest can be seen as being lazy.   But for the nervous system, rest is not a reward, it's what the body actually needs and  it’s how the body repairs itself.

When we don’t get enough deep rest, the nervous system constantly stays switched on, and over time, this can show up as uneasy feelings, anxiety, feelings of low mood, pain, and a constant feeling of being a bit worn down.

This is why I love sound baths

If you’ve been feeling tired, wired, overwhelmed, stressed or just not quite yourself, this isn’t because you’re doing life wrong. It’s because your nervous system has been working very hard for a very long time.

My sound baths are not just about listening to beautiful sounds. They are about giving your nervous system the space it needs to unwind, reset, and gently come back into balance. An hour just for you, to lie down and get warm, comfy and cosy.  To let the sound do its magic, nothing for you to do and nowhere for you to go, just a hour of rest.

My in-person sound baths start again next week, and if you cant get to a class online offerings coming soon.xxx