Tibetan Singing Bowl Mallet Meditation

A very simple and elegant tool for meditation and creating space for yoga and awareness is the singing bowl. Children are naturally are drawn to instruments and can be guided into focused attention when sounding them provided that they are shown how to hold the bowls with reverence and care.

You can get a singing bowl at any Tibetan store or online for a wide range of prices. It’s a good idea to try a number of different bowls to get a feeling for the sound you like the best.

Begin by sitting up tall in a cross-legged seat with your singing bowl resting in the open palm of one hand and your mallet held relaxed on the other hand. Invite the sound of the bowl by circling the mallet around the outside the bowl until the sound has grown as loud as you enjoy. As soon as the bowl is sounding on its own without the mallet, begin counting your breaths.

One breath is comprised of one inhale plus the exhale. Count how many times you can do a complete breath cycle before you can no longer hear the bowl. You might notice you get distracted. Just notice and see how many breaths you can count before you lose track. Notice if you find yourself amused, annoyed, distracted, or soothed. Notice and let it go.

An even simpler meditation that I like to do at the beginning of class is to direct the children to sit up tall with the backs of their hands resting on their knees. When they are focused on me with still bodies and quiet mouths, I tell them to rest their eyes so that their ears can listen for the sound of the Tibetan singing bowl growing, then fading. “See if you can catch the moment when the sound disappears.” This simple technique can be used with even toddlers, as there is something very compelling about the bowl sounding.

There are countless ways the singing bowl can be used to create a meditative space with your children. One of my favorites is to use it as a tool to bring the family to a moment of shared silence when voices begin to rise in conflict. Do you use the singing bowl in your home? Please share your singing bowl experience in the comment space below.

Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension

Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease. This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Sixty-two women and men (mean age 49.7 years) participated. As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood (all Ps <.001). Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation (P < .001). The feeling of spiritual well-being significantly increased across all participants (P < .001). 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. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation.

Heart disease, diabetes, addiction, and mental health issues have all been linked to stress and tension. Meditation, including systems such as mindfulness-based meditations, has shown promise in inducing the relaxation response and helping alleviate anxiety and improve well-being. The relaxation response is the body’s physiological response in relaxation, including lowered blood pressure to counter the fight-or-flight response and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. As promising as mindfulness and other meditation systems may be, a common complaint is time, patience, and discipline required to learn meditation. Thus, a form of relaxation and stress relief that does not require a steep learning curve or a great deal of discipline to utilize could potentially be a huge benefit to human wellness and health.

The authors set out to examine the possibility that merely lying down and listening to the high-intensity, low-frequency combination of singing bowls, gongs, and bells in a sound meditation could induce a deep relaxation response and positively affect mood and sense of well-being. Sound healing has been used for centuries and been utilized in various forms by cultures the world over, including native peoples. Australian aboriginal tribes have used the didgeridoo as a sound healing instrument for over 40,000 years. Ancient instruments have also been used for religious and spiritual ceremonies such as Tibetan (also called “Himalayan”) singing bowls. Tibetan singing bowls are metal bowls usually consisting of a combination of metal alloys and originally used by Tibetan monks for spiritual ceremonies.

While sound healing is not a new concept, there is a paucity of research in areas such as Tibetan singing bowls. The majority of singing bowl studies relate to the physics of these musical instruments, including the sonic and wave properties, as well as attempting to model the singing bowl’s acoustic characteristics. In one study, singing bowls were used for emotional healing with high-risk youth as part of what was termed the best self-visualization method. The bowls were used in a psychotherapy model in combination with deep breathing, visualization, and loving-kindness meditation. The authors reported that this combination of healing methods may be a catalyst for emotional and psychological healing in counseling sessions.

The purpose of the present study was to further advance research in this area by examining the possible effects of singing bowls and sound healing on mood, anxiety, physical pain, and spiritual well-being, and to lay the foundation for a future more formal randomized control trial.

How Tibetan Singing Bowls Affect Our Body?

Sound therapy with Tibetan singing bowls is an ancient form of regeneration. The first bowls were made from an alloy of various metals and were used already 6000 years ago in the Far East. Tibetan singing bowls area a mysterious acoustic phenomenon, which was discovered by “spiritual tourists” in the Himalayas and after the Chinese invasion of Tibet appeared also in Europe and the USA.

The sound of Tibetan singing bowls and the gong harmonizes and allows deep relaxation of both sides of the brain. It stimulates stress relief on all levels and the elimination of toxins from the body. After sound therapy emotions are calm and the mind clearer and the sound vibrations have an effect on the body after the singing bowls have been played on it.

After sound therapy we are tuned again …

The bowl sings ”ommmmm”, which revives the basic DNA codes and activates the codes that we haven’t yet perceived or we had suppressed till now. Tibetan singing bowls are one of the strongest musical instruments for healing with sound therapy and vibrations. They are called singing bowls because their exotic sound continues to float for a long time after we have played on them.

Why are these bowls so special?

Tibetan bowls are forged with alloys that usually contain from five to seven precious metals, which are connected to the planets of our galaxy: lead (Saturn), tin (Jupiter), iron (Mars), copper (Venus), mercury (Mercury), silver (the Moon) and gold (the Sun). The size of the bowl and the ratio between the metals affect the tone, vibration, and quality of sound produced by the bowl. Bowls vary in shapes and look as they are used for sound therapy in different ways and with different accessories. The most commonly used accessory is the so-called “strikers”, which are used to strike to bowls or wooden mallets that are rotated around the rim of the bowl. Besides Tibetan bowls, there are also Nepalese, Japanese, Bengalese and crystal bowls – the latter is made out of glass.

How does sound affect our body?

The sound is undoubtedly one of the most powerful media, as it can take the human spirit in different states of consciousness.

Besides their traditional use for meditation, Tibetan singing bowls are used for deep relaxation and muscle regeneration, to relieve pain in the joints, muscles, and shoulders, to ease pain related to sciatica, the digestive system, headaches, and migraine or spine injuries, to improve circulation, release tensions or blockages, to open the energy flow, eliminate the toxins from the body. When we relax with the sounds of Tibetan bowls or the gong, our concentration improves and our emotional tensions and blockages are eased. The sound with its vibrations can ease mental or emotional pain (low self-esteem, worries, fear, anger, anxiety, depression, insomnia). Tibetan singing bowls and their unique tones are used to stabilize blood pressure, to ease asthma-related issues, to renew the functioning of the adrenal gland, to open and stabilize the meridians, and to improve the synaptic responses in our brain. They also help children with hyperactive disorders and they stimulate the immune system.

Let Me Introduce You to a Tibetan Singing Bowl

When you travel, you become more aware of different cultures and practices. The more you learn, the more you will benefit. When I first discovered a Tibetan singing bowl, it was no different. I was truly fascinated with the harmonious sound and vibrations is created. I wanted to know more about what it was, how it worked, why people use it, and so much more!

What is a Tibetan singing bowl?

It’s a bowl. And it’s a bell. It’s also a complex musical instrument, originating from the Himalayan countries, but most associated with Tibet. My Tibetan singing bowl is created from panchaloga, a 5-metal alloy of copper, zinc, iron, and traces of silver and gold. The presence of several different ores produces multiphonic overtones when the bowl is rubbed or struck like a bell. The “singing” sound is quite remarkable and can be both energizing and soothing at the same time. It can be quite large or small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Its pitch can be low or high, depending on its size and other variables, like whether or not it is filled with water or the surface of the mallet.

What is the history of singing bowls?

Tibetan singing bowls go back over 2000 years. Originally hand-hammered, each bowl was unique in its tones and ‘singing’. Singing bowls have been used to aid in meditation, religious practice, relaxation, and healing. They have been found primarily in Tibet, India, and Nepal, but also in Japan, Korea, China, and Mongolia. There is a common association between singing bowls and Buddhism, but the use of singing bowls predates Buddhism. The first singing bowls are said to have been made in Mesopotamia over 5000 years ago, making them one of the oldest artisan crafts in human history.

Who uses a Tibetan singing bowl?

I was truly amazed at how widespread the use of singing bowls is. Certainly still a cultural practice in Himalayan countries, its use has spread to many people for many purposes. I was first exposed to a singing bowl by my husband’s aunt, who works as a music therapist. Today, you will find singing bowls being used in yoga classes, music instruction (they are a great way to teach about harmonics!), spas, meditation sessions, in sound healing, for stress reduction, and even just for entertainment. If you travel a lot like I do, you could use a singing bowl to calm your nerves before flying OR to keep your children entertained.

When I received my Tibetan singing bowl, I was with my three-year-old grandson. He was very interested in learning how to use it. For a young child, the easiest way to use a singing bowl is to strike it like a bell. He liked being able to make the bowl be “quiet” or “loud”.

As I learned how to make the bowl ‘sing’, my grandson immediately picked up on the tones it was producing. Notice how he tries to match the tone with his own voice. But it’s tricky because there’s more than one tone playing!

Tibetan Singing Bowl- Sound Bowl Meditation and Healing

Have you heard of the benefits of singing bowl meditation? In this post, we discuss recent studies that examined the effect of Tibetan singing bowls on our mood and well-being. The result of the studies has amazing implications. Read on to learn more!

In our modern world, stress and tension-induced diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as addiction and mental illness, are becoming increasingly common. Meditation is becoming more mainstream and is often recommended to encourage relaxation, help alleviate anxiety, and improve well-being. However, many find meditation to be a challenging practice that can take many years if not decades to master. Fortunately, the benefits of meditation can be much more easily attained (or enhanced) by using a Tibetan singing bowl.

Tibetan singing bowls are metal bowls usually made from a combination of metal alloys and originally used by Tibetan monks for spiritual ceremonies. Over the past several hundred years, years, singing bowls have been used more commonly for sound healing.

But what is sound healing? When played, Tibetan singing bowls make a vibration or sound called resonance which is the frequency at which an object naturally vibrates. Our bodies each have their own natural resonance, and vibration medicine advocates suggest that disease is a result of those natural resonances becoming out of tune due to stress, illness, or environmental factors.

Interestingly, there is very little scientific research on the subject of sound healing. Accordingly, a team of researchers at the University of California delved further into the subject and recently published their findings.

They studied 62 participants, both male and female, with an average age of 49.7 years. Prior to and following the sound healing session, all participants completed standardized questionnaires to assess tension, anger, confusion, depression, anxiety, and spiritual well-being. Participants also completed questionnaires which included questions regarding any prior experience with meditation or singing bowls, substance use, medications, over-the-counter or herbal supplements, and whether they were experiencing any physical pain and to what degree.

Participants laid on yoga mats with their heads near the instruments and listened to the sound meditation for approximately 60 minutes. The musical instruments used consisted of Tibetan singing bowls, crystal singing bowls, gongs, Ting-shas (tiny cymbals), Borges (bells), didgeridoos, and other small bells. The Tibetan singing bowls were primarily played for 95% of the time during the sound meditation, while the other instruments were only played for 5% of the time.

Depending on the size of the room and the number of participants, anywhere from 30 to 80 singing bowls were played with at least two Tibetan singing bowls near each participant’s head. A musician leads the sound meditation using cloth-covered mallets to strike the bowls and rub the rims of the bowl.

The results of the sound meditation were striking. The researchers found a significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment in tension, anger, confusion, depression, anxiety, and spiritual well-being across participants.

We invite you to get your own Tibetan singing bowl or crystal singing bowl today!

Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being

Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease. This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Sixty-two women and men participated. As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood. Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation. The feeling of spiritual well-being significantly increased across all participants. 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. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation.

Heart disease, diabetes, addiction, and mental health issues have all been linked to stress and tension. Meditation, including systems such as mindfulness-based meditations, has shown promise in inducing the relaxation response and helping alleviate anxiety and improve well-being. The relaxation response is the body’s physiological response in relaxation, including lowered blood pressure to counter the fight-or-flight response and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. As promising as mindfulness and other meditation systems may be, a common complaint is time, patience, and discipline required to learn meditation. Thus, a form of relaxation and stress relief that does not require a steep learning curve or a great deal of discipline to utilize could potentially be a huge benefit to human wellness and health.

The authors set out to examine the possibility that merely lying down and listening to the high-intensity, low-frequency combination of singing bowls, gongs, and bells in a sound meditation could induce a deep relaxation response and positively affect mood and sense of well-being. Sound healing has been used for centuries and been utilized in various forms by cultures the world over, including native peoples. Australian aboriginal tribes have used the didgeridoo as a sound healing instrument for over 40 000 years. Ancient instruments have also been used for religious and spiritual ceremonies such as Tibetan (also called “Himalayan”) singing bowls. Tibetan singing bowls are metal bowls usually consisting of a combination of metal alloys and originally used by Tibetan monks for spiritual ceremonies.

While sound healing is not a new concept, there is a paucity of research in areas such as Tibetan or quartz crystal singing bowls. The majority of singing bowl studies relate to the physics of these musical instruments, including the sonic and wave properties, as well as attempting to model the singing bowl’s acoustic characteristics. In one study, singing bowls were used for emotional healing with high-risk youth as part of what was termed the best self-visualization method. The bowls were used in a psychotherapy model in combination with deep breathing, visualization, and loving-kindness meditation. The authors reported that this combination of healing methods may be a catalyst for emotional and psychological healing in counseling sessions.

The purpose of the present study was to further advance research in this area by examining the possible effects of singing bowls and sound healing on mood, anxiety, physical pain, and spiritual well-being, and to lay the foundation for a future more formal randomized control trial.

Tibetan Singing Bowl Therapy Reduces Stress, Physical and Emotional Strain

With busy schedules and hectic lives, it’s easy to feel overcome with stress. When you’re stressed, your brain sounds the “fight or flight” alarms, triggering a surge of hormones, an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar. It alters the immune, digestive and reproductive system and according to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress can cause tension headaches, migraines, increase the risk for hypertension, heart attack, and stroke, lead to stomach ulcers and more. The Mayo Clinic says it can also lead to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, weight gain, and impair memory and concentration.

Many of us have go-to stress reducers like exercise, spending time outdoors, socializing, massage and maybe meditation. Another option, although not new, is the ancient practice of sound therapy.

For years, people have used soothing sounds to assist in meditation, relaxation, or even sleep. Sound therapy, a healing practice used in many ancient cultures, takes these healing sounds a step further, using vibrations to possibly heal physical aches and pains, reduce stress or other mental and emotional issues. It also is believed to relieve a blockage of the chakras or the energy points in the body.

“So many of us need to slow down and relax,” said Maria Dummermuth, a fitness instructor and certified Tibetan singing bowl healer who has been using singing bowls for healing for the past two years.

Dummermuth, 42, earned her certification in singing bowl therapy from the Atmabuti School of Vibrational Healing in Boulder, Colo., in April of 2016 after teaching fitness classes- from yoga to BodyPump and everywhere in between- for years.

When we are in pain or are ill, she said it may be because our cells have “vibrated out of balance.”

“Sound and vibration bring you into a more centered space,” she said, explaining that the therapy can release pain and tension by vibrating those cells “back into balance.”