"Any conflict can be dissolved through sound or music, as from sound and music comes Harmony.
The balance of mind, body and spirit depends on whether we can create these energies of harmony or not." ~ Fabien Maman
The balance of mind, body and spirit depends on whether we can create these energies of harmony or not." ~ Fabien Maman
Continuing with my series of self healing techniques that included art, music and drumming, for your mental health, my topic for today will be sound therapy. Most of us are used to hearing commonplace sounds such as trucks going. Some of you may be scratching your head and thinking, "how can sound be a therapy? "Well, interestingly enough, it is. Sound therapy utilizes different tones to enhance
by, the whirring of noisy machinery, the hammering of a carpenter, or the steady beat of a drum in the music that we listen to, and for the most part it is background noise, we aren't necessarily aware of it. But it can affect our state of mind as well as our health. Studies have shown that when we are constantly bombarded with loud sounds, a decrease in our energy level occurs and may make us tense, anxious, or irritable.
Our bodies are composed of millions of resonating cells that keep our internal
organs running smoothly. Each of our organs such as our heart, brain, glands, etc work with ease at a precise frequency. If something occurs to disrupt this harmonious reverberation, we may become mentally or physically ill. Think of your body as an orchestra that produces beautiful harmonies, if one instrument is out of tune, or a musician hits the wrong note, it throws the entire system off and it is no longer music to our ears, but rather something that has turned sour. All of our internal structures have to attain and maintain a balance for us to remain healthy. This picture illustrates the impact
of acoustic sound on human cells and their energy fields. Sound therapy helps to restore balance to our body, so that it can once again resonate like beautiful music.
Sound has been employed for thousands of years as a way to help us therapeutically as well as spiritually. Ancient tribal priests and shamans understood its potential and used specific tones in their prayers and chants during healing ceremonies. Today, sound therapists achieve this goal by applying different procedures to integrate our innate rhythms once again thus restoring our mental and physical well being.
by, the whirring of noisy machinery, the hammering of a carpenter, or the steady beat of a drum in the music that we listen to, and for the most part it is background noise, we aren't necessarily aware of it. But it can affect our state of mind as well as our health. Studies have shown that when we are constantly bombarded with loud sounds, a decrease in our energy level occurs and may make us tense, anxious, or irritable. Our bodies are composed of millions of resonating cells that keep our internal
organs running smoothly. Each of our organs such as our heart, brain, glands, etc work with ease at a precise frequency. If something occurs to disrupt this harmonious reverberation, we may become mentally or physically ill. Think of your body as an orchestra that produces beautiful harmonies, if one instrument is out of tune, or a musician hits the wrong note, it throws the entire system off and it is no longer music to our ears, but rather something that has turned sour. All of our internal structures have to attain and maintain a balance for us to remain healthy. This picture illustrates the impact
of acoustic sound on human cells and their energy fields. Sound therapy helps to restore balance to our body, so that it can once again resonate like beautiful music.Sound has been employed for thousands of years as a way to help us therapeutically as well as spiritually. Ancient tribal priests and shamans understood its potential and used specific tones in their prayers and chants during healing ceremonies. Today, sound therapists achieve this goal by applying different procedures to integrate our innate rhythms once again thus restoring our mental and physical well being.
Many types of sound therapy can be used on your own or with the aid of a therapist. In some cases, machines are employed to induce tones at certain levels which enhance healing. We may be taught to produce our own healing sounds through the
use of percussive instruments or our own voice which is referred to as toning. Percussive instruments such as gongs or chimes help to regulate the "chakras," or energy fields of our body that resonate at specific frequencies, thus restoring balance to our systems. Those who meditate understand that by uttering mantras or 
religious chants which are a repetition of sounds or sayings that our mind can become more focused allowing us to achieve a state of relaxation and harmony. An additional way to attain this is through "Gregorian Chants," which focus on breathing, allowing for stress reduction and tranquility. Another technique is the use of vibrating tones or prolonged vowel sounds that are focused on affected regions of the body stimulating and helping to heal them through "massage." Likewise, tuning forks may used
because they reverberate at certain frequencies when struck against a firm surface. These tones are an effective way to heal when they are directed to a specific body organ. Last, but not least, if you enjoy making music, you can benefit by joining a group that achieves inner harmony through the use of song, chants or drums.
because they reverberate at certain frequencies when struck against a firm surface. These tones are an effective way to heal when they are directed to a specific body organ. Last, but not least, if you enjoy making music, you can benefit by joining a group that achieves inner harmony through the use of song, chants or drums. Next up are some ways to practice sound therapy on your own.
Plan on taking care of yourself daily by finding a quiet place to lie or sit comfortably.
Listen to gentle orchestra music or the sounds of flutes, violins, drums, chimes, 
Tibetan bells or bowls( which help to foster mental clarity) or surround yourself with the sounds of nature such as wind, birds, running water. These will release mood enhancing endorphins that help you to stay more focused, give you energy, and make you feel refreshed.
Each one of us sighs, or groans to release pent up tension. Try the following to alleviate this. Sit up and relax your neck, back and jaw. Inhale deeply and when you exhale, let out a note. Don't worry if the sound you make is is not pleasing. The purpose of this activity is to make a sound that reverberates, like "om". Try to change the tones you make to higher or lower pitches. Pay special attention to the areas of your body that feel tense, or drained of energy. The resonance that is created from this exercise should make you feel much better both mentally and physically.
Tibetan bells or bowls( which help to foster mental clarity) or surround yourself with the sounds of nature such as wind, birds, running water. These will release mood enhancing endorphins that help you to stay more focused, give you energy, and make you feel refreshed.Each one of us sighs, or groans to release pent up tension. Try the following to alleviate this. Sit up and relax your neck, back and jaw. Inhale deeply and when you exhale, let out a note. Don't worry if the sound you make is is not pleasing. The purpose of this activity is to make a sound that reverberates, like "om". Try to change the tones you make to higher or lower pitches. Pay special attention to the areas of your body that feel tense, or drained of energy. The resonance that is created from this exercise should make you feel much better both mentally and physically.
As you can see, sound therapy is an excellent remedy to manage stress, alleviate tension, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and activate the body's immune system.
References:
The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers,
Pittsburgh, PA.
