29/07/2026
Sound Healing:
Since my 20's I have been deeply interested in the healing properties of music. I discovered a book by Mary Bassano on Music Therapy in the earlier 90's that informed my earlier retreat work, although it was based on beliefs, probably informed by the popular New Age Movement of the time, that the musical scales resonate with the 7 Chakras. Of course sound has a profound energetic effect on the body, but music written in the tone of C will not necessarily only stimulate the root chakra and make you think of red.
My first ever experience of a Sound Journey was with Chris Tokalon in the early 2000's. The seed was planted and I knew I would love to offer this kind of work in the future. I was particularly drawn to the Tibetan Singing Bowls because of its powerful calming effect on the nervous system.
A few years ago I did a Sound Healing Course presented by Harel Gal, a music therapist from Israel, brought out by the Music Department of the University of Pretoria to run CPD accredited courses across the country. I felt ever closer to the manifestation of my dream after this excellent practical and theoretical course, but now to obtain the bowls. I still remember Harel saying that if you have 3 resonating singing bowls, you can start your practice. And you have to choose your bowls personally. Never buy online.
It took a couple of years for my dream to manifest, and by the end of last year I was finally able to introduce Sound Healing to my work. I offer monthly Sound Journeys using the Tibetan Singing Bowls and other sacred instruments, in an intimate setting where I can only accommodate 7 participants.
I have also introduced Sound Healing in my Reiki practice. During the 90 minute session I start with sounding the bowls around the client and on the client's back. This is followed by a full Reiki session. We end of with the bowls placed on the front of the body.
Sound Healing has become increasingly popular recently, the reason being its immediate calming and restorative effect on the body, which most of the time is under severe pressure due to high stress levels. So what actually happens? Why does this work?
Sound moves faster through water, and since our bodies are about 75% water, a variety of sound frequencies resonates and creates movement in the body. The physical vibrations from the bowl can directly impact cells and tissue, facilitating a deeper sense of physical relaxation and potential cellular repair.
Furthermore, what happens is a process called "Entrainment". This is what happens when you start tapping your toe to a beat or dance in perfect rhythm to a piece of music. With singing bowls the brain naturally synchronizes its own frequency to the dominant, stable frequency of the singing bowl, often slowing down from Beta (active) to Alpha or Theta waves. This means that an altered state of consciousness is reached, in the same way that Meditation leads to an Alpha state of awareness.The pulsing sustained sound produced when a bowl is played creates a specific "beat frequency" that typically falls within the theta wave band (4-8 Hz), which is closely linked to deep meditation and
healing.
As a result, the singing bowls have a profound effect on body mechanisms like heart rate and breathing. Unlike short-lived sounds, the sustained, rich, and layered overtones of a bowl provide a continuous, stable rhythm that allows the nervous system to settle, which has the profound healing effect of reducing stress and anxiety. These effects, often called "frequency following response," allow the listener to move into a state of "spacious awareness," reducing tension, balancing the energy centers (chakras), and lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
Are you interested in experiencing this for yourself? Then book for a Sound Journey or a Reiki & Sound Healing session with me by contacting me at 083 764 5978.
The dates for my next Sound Journeys are:
🌀 Saturday 15 August from 15:00-16:30.
🌀 Sunday 16 August from 10:00-11:30.
