Here’s everything to know about singing bowls, including the benefits and how to use them. As sound therapist and meditation teacher Sara Auster tells mbg, there are a number of kinds, namely Himalayan singing bowls (also called “Tibetan singing bowls” or “metal singing bowls”), made from metal, and crystal singing bowls, made from silica sand. She notes that while the exact history of singing bowls is unclear, they have certainly been around for thousands of years. Today, you’ll find them in spiritual centers, yoga studios, sound baths, and more. As Auster adds, the beautiful sounds created by singing bowls are both meditative and relaxing and can elicit a parasympathetic response in the body. “Waves made by striking or singing the bowls produce harmonics that can move you into different brainwave states,” she adds. While research on singing bowls is limited, there is some scientific evidence that certain tones and frequencies have the ability to calm the body and mind. As Auster explains, sound baths can offer a “deeply immersive, full-body listening experience that can bring balance, relaxation, and a sense of calm to your whole being.” And as Schieffelin adds, you can feel the relaxing effects even with a short sound bathing session featuring this special instrument. If that seems too good to be true, Goldsby’s research did indeed find that participants’ feelings of spiritual well-being increased significantly following the study. The researchers write, “Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost, low-technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being.” You can start your singing bowl journey by attending a sound bath guided by a sound healer. If you like what you hear, both Auster and Schieffelin offer online trainings to help get you started facilitating your own sound bathing journey. “If you feel called to work with crystal bowls,” Schieffelin notes, “studying with a qualified teacher and becoming part of a supportive community of sound healers can have a profound impact on helping you feel empowered, confident, supported, and successful on your path.” One of the first questions you might ask when looking to start playing your own singing bowl is how to pick one. According to Schieffelin, you want to find a bowl that’s ethically sourced and made. Your best bet is to work with an experienced sound healer who can help educate and guide you to the bowl(s) that will best support your personal practice, she adds. She personally recommends Crystal Tones singing bowls.
