Has anyone had a sound bath? Something weird happened to me …

[Mintakan]

And I want to see if it’s normal.

On Saturday I went to my first sound bath. I had a burn out in 2021 (run my own business) so I’m working on finding activities that help relaxation. A friend who is a yoga teacher suggested a sound bath with Himalayan and crystal singing bowls.

The whole setting was fabulous. Everyone has a personal sheepskin rug, we had blankets, eye masks and cushions for head and knees. She gave us all a hot cup of herbal tea when we arrived.

She explained the process and that we might experience some physical reactions, goosebumps, pins and needles etc.

About halfway through when she starts on the lower note bowls I had a visceral reaction. All the hair on my body stood on end and my fight or flight response was triggered. I started to panic and wanted to run out of the room.

I suffered with crippling panic attacks as a teenager and recognised it immediately and was able to do my breathing exercises to bring myself back down.

I was really enjoying it up to that point. I have no idea what happened. The rest of the session passed without incident. I’m hoping that someone else has experienced similar? I’d like to go back again but would like to avoid a repeat!

I went to a gong bath with my DD, we both hated it. The man seemed really creepy.

Someone runs sound bath sessions very close to our home, and as they are so convenient I have considered joining. But reading posts here has put me off as I have a Pacemaker and don’t fancy the effect of deep vibrations on it.

I've just had my first gong bath / sound journey and I'm one and done I think. Slightly cold room didn't help, and I was right at the back. The sound was mostly like a helicopter overhead. Spent quite a lot of the session wondering how heavy the gongs and other paraphernalia were and how difficult they were to lug up the stairs. So I possibly didn't surrender suffiently. (I find wall-of-noise black metal quite relaxing so it's not that I can't appreciate big droney sounds). Participants all female and gong master (?) male which added a certain dynamic - I think I would have preferred a woman. Kudos to anyone walking out if it's not for them though, rather than enduring for appearances sake.

I cry doing yoga, nearly hallucinate doing sound bathing. 😂I just hold everything in my body.

Hiya, I had this experience! Started to laugh about an hour in (session was 1.5hr) couldn’t stop, was laughing hysterically for the rest of the session & for about 20mins after! Was really embarrassed as thought I’d ruined it for others, and am worried about returning!
haven’t ever laughed so hard & loud

Is it possible to have a private session? It sounds as if it would be good for you to be able to express yourself freely without worrying about disturbing others.

I once had a bout of hysterical laughter that I just couldn’t stop. It lasted a whole evening.
It was after a period of great stress came to an end, but sound baths weren’t involved

I realize this post is a while back, but I wanted to contribute some information I hope will help.
When I read your reaction to the sound bath, I wish someone had told me these reactions are less common but can be managed.
I'm a licensed therapist and certified sound practitioner and play alchemy singing bowls. When I heard a singing bowl online for the first time (they are that powerful), a twisting pain right above my belly button was torturous. I stopped listening and it ebbed but when I replayed the video, it started again. I didn't know ow then that the upper sacral chakra is a big deal for being your authentic self and needing to create (neither of which I was doing 5 to 6 years ago). It was a calling and my body was healing a very unique area after a childhood of chaos, not being allowed to figure out my feelings as a child, and not creating anything over a lifetime.
The pain subsided after small doses of hearing it over a week and I was empowered to start playing them on my own. 5 years later, I'm playing many and am the most empowered I've ever felt because I am creating music and finding my tribe.
What I'd say to anyone who has had a negative reaction to a sound bath is maybe, to ask the sound practitioner to work with you privately. They often charge for private sessions and can go slowly and let you get to know that set of sounds differently. The pain will subside but it takes time. Something within you wants to heal and sound can be a pathway!
Jo Lonna Foy

I went to my first one the other day. Weird thing happened. Got a fluttering in chest like too much caffeine. She switched chimes and it stopped. Pick them back up and it started again. Changed and it stopped. I was uncomfortable but didnt say anything. .But I found myself on the third time saying omg it really is the sound doing that. I then had a weird anxious feeling going home. But the strangest thing is that night I must have gotten up to pee at least 10 times. Each time like I’d just drank a pitcher of water. So not to be gross but it’s like that’s all I did that night and was asking myself where is this coming from? Did not happen any nights after. But I did feel better. I’m going to go again soon and my friend wants to try it as well. It definitely does something. And its the singing bowls that make those sounds that go right through you.

I’ve had something similar, I can only describe it as abject terror!

First one I ever went to about four years ago. I’ve been to about a dozen since and never experienced it again. I’ve stopped going to them now as I’ve decided I don’t really enjoy it anymore. I also tried drumming as opposed to gongs and thought ‘what a bloody racket’.

I think it’s the having a rest/reclining for an hour I really enjoy 😂.

this is so interesting someone should look into it more!