Today I did a new thing. This is saying something. It’s not that I don’t like or do new things but lately I have been running on autopilot a lot and recently have been a shut-in with my broken toe keeping me from driving.

Today, however, I escaped the confines of my home and I went to a studio in Morden called Soulful Yog and experienced Sound Healing for the first time. It’s a little like an hour long massage using vibrations (although there was also heat application as well). Described as an ancient practice, the Morden practitioner, Ashima Jain, brought her entire collection of sound implements from India to Morden including singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, and chimes, etc.

I am an odd person. I like physical therapy and massages but rarely ever book it. I’m a little bit of a “don’t touch me” kind of a person and so massage from a stranger can sometimes freak me out. Not like ALL CAPS bold “DON’T TOUCH ME!” levels but enough to keep me from booking it. This experience had some almost hands on moments with instruments like heated bowls or singing bowls touching me, not hands. Big difference.

I have to tell you the sound healing session was one of the MOST relaxing things I have EVER experienced.

Ashima was welcoming and made me feel comfortable immediately. The studio setup is very professional and calming. I laid myself out on a comfortable matt with strategically placed pillows. I w as covered by a blanket, put on an eye mask and began with some relaxing deep breathing.

What followed was nearly an hour of deeply relaxing sound, vibration and heat therapy that sent me io snoring THREE times to my shame! Not a thing I generally like to do in public. It was fine though – a true sign of relaxation if ever there was one.

I have been clinically diagnosed by a psychiatrist with combined ADHD (yay me) which contributes to a nice mix of anxiety and stress etc. To be able to find nearly an hour of time where I was able to successfully calm my mind and relax was a rare and brilliant thing.

I’m not a doctor or scientist. I cannot validate any claims related to sound healing/therapy beyond my own experience. There are however, some great peer reviewed, evidence based research articles that speak to the evident benefits and validity including this one:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8157227/

There’s also another great article here at Psychology Today – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/201907/the-healing-power-of-sound-as-meditation?msockid=0038dc10fe8469401febc9a6ff3c6886

I will say this. It was a brilliant experience. I will book again – regularly. I will recommend it to others. I do recommend it to you. Check out Ashima’s page at Soulfulyog.com which describes her various packages as well as yoga offerings.

Ashima offers numerous packages for sound bath and therapy sessions ranging in cost from $30 to $70 including: sessions for neck pain; digestive system; back and hip pain; knee and ankle pain; stress depression and anxiety; nervous system; full body therapy; and a pyramid sound bath. Sessions range in length from 35 minutes to an hour.

P.S. I imagine certain children would absolutely love this experience.