Guide to sound healing therapy in Singapore

New-age therapy takes new forms with some turning to sound to soothe the soul.
Life in Singapore is stressful, and research conducted by risk management, insurance brokerage
and advisory company
Willis Towers Watsons just about proves that point. In a report in May 2018, they found that almost
two thirds of employees in Singapore experience high levels of stress. Stress that’s left unchecked
can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and
depression.

If you’ve tried conventional therapies and yoga, aromatherapy and meditation are not cutting it for
you either, how about trying something new? We’re talking about sound healing. Sound healing uses
different frequencies to restore balance in your body.

What is sound healing?
While the idea of sound healing might seem like some new age therapy or an alternative medicine that
is espoused by free-spirited hippies, it cannot be further from the truth. The concept and application
of music and sounds to soothe and rejuvenate can actually be dated back to ancient Greece, where it was
reportedly used to cure mental disorders.

Below, we’ve rounded up what you need to know about this healing method and where you can partake in it.
Sound healing Singapore and sound therapy work on the principle that sound and music have the ability to improve
your physical and mental well-being — much like how listening to torch songs after a heartbreak provides
some level of catharsis and comfort.

Suraya Sam, co-creator of Ascend Yoga Therapy and House of Ascend, says the basis underlying this technique
is the understanding that all forms of matter vibrate at different frequencies.
“Factors such as stress, sickness or depression cause cells and organs to vibrate at non-optimal frequencies.
Since sounds come at different frequencies and we too emit our own waves, healing with sound happens by matching frequencies of different sounds to those that are necessary and conducive to healing and relaxation in the person,” she notes. When done in conjunction with meditation, these tones “can lead you into a state of deep relaxation in which
healing and connection to a higher consciousness can take place,” adds Christina Nikolovski, founder of
SPACE2B studio. This is done through a process called brainwave entrainment, a method where a stimulus such
as sound and electromagnetic waves trigger the brain’s ‘frequency following’ response that encourages the
brainwaves to align to the stimulus’ frequency. This practice helps people to get “into states that might
otherwise be difficult to achieve, such as trance, enhanced focus, induced sleep or meditation” says Suraya.

The science of sound healing is expansive but in summary, this healing method harnesses the energy of sounds to bring zen and peace to the practitioner, by helping them get into a deeper meditative state or into a headspace where they can find inner peace and harmony.

How does sound healing heal?
When you’ve reached a state of tranquility and balance, the body is in a state where it can heal.
Christine Shiu of The Singing Bowl Gallery shares how sound healing can be used to soothe physical ailments.
“For example, we can relieve back pain, headaches and stomach discomforts by playing the singing bowl directly
on our back, head and stomach,” she points out. In addition, sounds can leave a positive impact on the mental state.
“The sound of a large singing bowl helps us to fall into a deep sleep easily, while certain sounds are good for bringing
clarity to the mind and uplifting the mood. When our mind is clear, we are more able to connect with our inner wisdom and be
at peace,” she adds.

According to a Healthline article, multiple studies have shown that various methods of sound healing resulted in the reduction
of afflictions such as stress, anger, depression and fatigue and can be used to help people who are suffering from issues such
as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, dementia and other medical conditions. Done in tandem with meditation, the health benefits
of sound healing can be amplified.

Sound healing and its various frequencies also correlate to the various frequencies of chakra points found around the body at places such
as your head, heart and groin. The use of different frequencies created by different implements help unblock the chakra and facilitates the
proper circulation of energy around the body that is believed to eventually lead to physical, mental and spiritual well-being. However as with any healing method, caution needs to be taken. According to Brainworks, the use of sound to stimulate brainwave entrainment
could possibly lead to ailments such as headaches, nausea and seizures in extreme cases, so start with a short session and don’t feel obliged
to stay for the whole duration if you do feel unwell.

Equipment required for sound healing
There are various implements used during sound healing. Amongst these include the gong,
Tibetan singing bowls made of either metal or crystal,
tuning forks, didgeridoos and the use of your own voice, depending on the class and
practice you wish to adopt. Studios and outlets offering sound healing sessions.
There are two broad ways that you can engage with sound healing. The first, which can be termed
as either a sound bath or sound healing,
refer to a session where you, the participant, receives sounds played by the healer while you
engage in other activities such as meditation
or yoga (or even do nothing). The second involves you being a more engaged participant, where
you are training to conduct sound healing for
yourself or for a class. If you’re having a difficulties find a sound healer or an instrument
to pick up, Elaine Victoria Yang of One Heart
Singapore advises to “go with what resonates with you”.