Sound healing has exploded in popularity over the past few years—and for good reason. People are craving grounding experiences, stress relief, and new ways to reconnect with themselves outside of the hustle. They’re also looking for more relaxing group activities to do on vacation, to celebrate special occasions, and to elevate work retreats.
Sound healing offers all of that and more, using soothing sounds and intentional vibrations to guide the mind and body into deep rest. The best part? It doesn’t require any effort to enjoy—all you have to do is get cozy and relax!
If you’ve seen me playing crystal bowls on Instagram, heard about sound baths from a friend, or are simply curious about what actually happens during one, this guide will answer everything you’re searching for.
My name is Amy, and I’m a certified Sound Healer and business owner here at Mind Body Badass. I’ve led sound baths for everyone from a family of 4 to a corporate retreat for Pandora jewelry! And let me tell you—sound baths are about to take wellness to the next level.
What is Sound Healing?
Sound healing is a therapeutic practice that uses intentional sound frequencies to relax the nervous system, calm the mind, and restore balance in the body. The most common tools are crystal singing bowls, chimes, gongs, drums, and shakers, but there is quite a wide variety of instruments out there. Some practitioners even sing or incorporate musical elements into their sound baths.
Each instrument is designed to produce healing vibrations that help your body shift out of stress and into a more peaceful state. They turn off your flight or fight stress response (activated by your sympathetic nervous system) and turn on your parasympathetic nervous system—allowing your body space to recover and repair.
Modern sound healing blends ancient traditions with neuroscience-backed benefits. Many people describe it as “meditation made easy,” because instead of trying to quiet your mind, the sound does the work for you. When you experience one, you may find yourself dropping into a meditative state—somewhere between waking and dreaming—or you might even fall asleep. You’ll come out of it feeling recharged and lighter.
How does Sound Healing work?
Everything in the Universe consists of frequencies. Everything is vibrating, from your cells to stars.
At the core of Sound Healing is the principle of Resonance—that one vibration affects the vibration of things around it. When singing bowls or other instruments produce steady, harmonious tones, your body (which is mostly water, a great conduit of frequencies) naturally begins to match.
You can see Resonance in action if you hold up two tuning forks next to each other, and hit one so it begins to vibrate. The second untouched tuning fork will start to vibrate as well, matching the frequency of the other. It “tunes” itself to the same frequency. Sound healing works the same way—the calming vibrations from the instruments help guide your body back into a more balanced, harmonious state.
During a sound healing session, the vibrations from the bowls and instruments interact with your brainwaves. As you listen to the tones, your brain naturally shifts from an active state into a calmer one, similar to meditation, daydreaming, or deep rest.
The body responds too: Breath deepens. Muscles release tension. Your heart rate slows. The body begins to work its healing magic.
Even if you don’t fall asleep (although many do! I consider it a successful sound bath if I can get at least one guest to snore), your nervous system receives the same restorative benefits as a very deep nap, if not more.
What are the benefits of Sound Healing?
Sound Healing is incredible for a variety of reasons, but the most common benefits include relaxation, stress relief, emotional release, physical recovery, fascia release, creative clarity, improved sleep, and a deeper connection to self. Sound baths can help reduce anxiety, lack of focus, or overwhelm—perfect for anyone who has a lot on their plate (and who doesn’t?!).
Some people simply look forward to having a full hour to pause, breathe, and let someone else guide the experience. I like to refer to it as Adult Nap Time, although the frequencies help you heal on an even deeper level than sleep.
While everyone’s experience is unique, nearly all guests leave feeling lighter than when they arrived!
What happens during a Sound Bath?
A sound bath is a sound healing session where you lie down comfortably and are guided through an immersive sound journey. There is no yoga or movement needed (although some classes may offer a mix), and you don’t have to “be good at meditating” or have any experience.
Sound baths can vary in length, anywhere from a few minutes during Savasana in a yoga class, or to a full 60-90 minute multi-instrument experience. You can join one at a local yoga studio, or search for special events or private sessions offered near you. Any length of sound healing is great—for our private sessions at Mind Body Badass we typically go for one hour.
Every sound healer will offer a different type of sound bath, depending on the instruments they have and their setup. No two experiences are the same, so do as many as you can! I often tell my clients that they’re about to enjoy the most relaxing concert of their lives.
Usually the sound bath setup will include a yoga mat or cushion to rest on as well as blankets and pillows to get cozy (at Mind Body Badass we also offer our guests take-home eye masks). You can enjoy a sound bath in any position—using a reclining chair or even floating in the pool can help elevate the experience.
Most sound baths begin with a short grounding or breathwork moment, followed by waves of sound from crystal singing bowls and other soothing instruments. You simply close your eyes, get comfortable, and let the vibration melt the stress from your body. The session usually ends with a gentle transition back into the room, leaving you relaxed and refreshed.
Is Sound Healing safe?
For most people, absolutely—sound healing is a gentle, non-invasive wellness experience designed to help you feel better!
If you’re pregnant, have sound sensitivity, or use hearing aids, you can still attend; just let your facilitator know so they can make adjustments for your comfort if needed. I’d recommend placing yourself a little further away from the sound instruments if you’re unsure.
Who is Sound Healing for?
Sound healing is for anyone who wants a mental reset, emotional release, or a moment of grounding. It’s popular for individuals, couples, small groups, birthday gatherings, corporate retreats, wellness days, and bachelorette weekends.
If you’re someone who struggles to meditate, this is one of the easiest ways to drop into stillness without any effort!
Your first session can feel surprisingly calming. Most people say, “I didn’t expect it to be this relaxing,” or “I didn’t know how much I needed that.” You may feel deeply rested, emotional, energized, or simply very peaceful afterward. There’s no right or wrong experience—sound healing meets you exactly where you are.
What’s the science behind Sound Healing?
Sound healing feels soothing for a reason—your mind and body respond to the vibrations in very real ways:
- Your brainwaves shift into calm. Crystal singing bowls produce steady tones that help your brain move from busy, active states into slower ones like alpha and theta—the same states linked with meditation, creativity, and deep relaxation. This is called brainwave entrainment, and it’s why your mind naturally slows down during a sound bath.
- Your nervous system downshifts. The tones stimulate the vagus nerve, activating your parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest and restore” mode). Heart rate slows, muscles release tension, and cortisol (stress hormone) drops. Your whole body gets a chance to reset.
- Vibrations travel easily through water, allowing them to pass from one molecule to the next more efficiently. This results in sound traveling over four times faster in water than in air. Because the body is mostly water, sound waves move through it effortlessly. These gentle vibrations soften fascia, improve circulation, and help release built-up stress or emotion. Many people describe this as feeling “lighter” afterward.
- The mind quiets without effort. Unlike traditional meditation, where you may be in silence, the sound gives your mind something soothing to focus on. This makes it much easier for beginners (or overthinkers!) to drop into stillness and experience the same benefits as meditation.
- Emotional regulation improves. Sound interacts with the limbic system—the part of the brain connected to emotion. This can help release tension, offer clarity, or create a feeling of emotional reset.
Together, these effects create a deeply restorative experience that benefits both mind and body in powerful ways that have to be experienced to fully understand!
“If we accept that sound is vibration and we know that vibration touches every part of our physical being, then we understand that sound is heard not only through our ears but through every cell in our bodies. One reason sound heals on a physical level is because it so deeply touches and transforms us on the emotional and spiritual planes. Sound can redress imbalances on every level of physiologic functioning and can play a positive role in the treatment of virtually any medical disorder.”
— Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, director of Medical Oncology and Integrative Medicine, the Cornell Cancer Prevention Center in New York
Want to experience a Private Sound Bath?
If you’d like to try sound healing for yourself, we offer private sound bath sessions across Southern California—including Palm Springs, Temecula, San Diego, and Los Angeles, as well as throughout the Southwest United States (including Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico). You can learn more about our sessions here. They are led by me and my incredible team of certified sound healers!
Your Private Sound Bath can take place at your home, Airbnb, hotel, office, retreat, or anywhere your group is gathering. We can also set up at a quiet public park or beach!
Private sessions are perfect for bachelorettes, couples, birthdays, corporate wellness days, retreat groups, or simply anyone wanting a personalized healing moment.
You can learn more or request a quote by Contacting Us here.
Sound healing is one of the best and simplest ways to soften, reset, and reconnect with yourself. Whether you join a group sound bath or book a private session, it offers a peaceful doorway into presence, rest, and ease—something we all need a little more of.