The art of meditation is one of the oldest practices of wellness on the planet, with the ancient tradition’s various techniques proven to mentally clear and emotionally calm all those who participate. But, for many who live in the modern world, one which requires a constantly ‘switched on’ mode, meditation is a much harder task to master than you’d first assume. That’s why, in recent years, the art of sound baths has become increasingly more popular — but what exactly does it entail?
Melbourne-based Sally Kellett founded her wellness studio Mirosuna after having lived the stressful and never-ending days of working in tech, switching to a new mission that plays on her love of mindfulness, giving guests an introduction into the ancient practice. Or, as the studio says, introducing “the kind of change that you carry with you long hours after leaving a meditation class.”
“I always practised a lot of mindfulness, and it was what got me through a very stressful career,” Kellett explains. “I really enjoyed my time in the corporate world, but what I found was that, no matter how much money one could earn and no matter how much work one would do, it doesn't make you happy. And I think everyone's really trying to do so much with so little these days, and everyone's getting pushed to the brink — COVID, no COVID, it doesn't matter — it's becoming harder and harder for people to switch off, because of the way that society has created this new lifestyle, that actually isn't natural for the human mind and body to endure.”
Mirosuna offers both in-person and virtual sessions, opening up the mind to a new means of complete relaxation. Below, a deep dive into the meditative practice of sound baths, from what they are to why they are taking the wellness world by storm.
Sound baths are a form of sound therapy that, in Mirosuna’s case, involves a darkened studio combined with Alchemy Crystal Singing Bowls. “Sound meditation is a very broad term, in terms of how it can be done, and not all sound meditation is the same," she explains. "My style, in particular, is for intrinsic trance and helping people quiet their minds, as well as experiencing the healing from it.”
Kellett adds that the practice is the “perfect fit” for busy professionals, “who really struggle to switch their mind off because there's so much going on in their lives, at home and work.”
The use of Alchemy Crystal Singing Bowls is also unique and deeply meaningful. “They’re precious and rare because there is only one place in the world that makes them and it’s a patented technology,” explains Kellett, adding that the highest vibrations for a sound meditation are created through these particular pure quartz bowls.
“They’re called Alchemy because the bowls are fused with precious gemstones and metal, and these precious gemstones and metals carry specific healing properties. So, the bowls are not just the line to specific energetic centres of your body, but they also really help you untangle and loosen up and resolve that stress and tension inside your body, whether it be physical or emotional.”
The studio itself is unique, adds Kellett, whereby its sound meditation room was built for that sole purpose, equipped with pitch ceilings and curtains that give each person privacy in their own little private pod. “All of that is still part of the experience,” notes Kellett.
Sound baths go beyond traditional meditation, using vibrations from bowls — made of crystal and precious metals — to envelope the body to clear blocked energy, realign the body and release tension.
“My experience is soft, gentle and really flows — there are no sudden loud bangs or sudden moves,” says Kellett. “I take people on a journey. I know where they are at with their mind and the brain activity and I take them really deep and then gently bring them back out.”
She adds, "When there is sound and vibration, it adds a very unique element to one’s meditation and it becomes a very strong anchor for people to gravitate towards. Because these sounds are so interesting to the human mind, the brain naturally gets curious over what’s going on in the moment that it starts to let the external chatter fade away, and that helps us relax, because the brain is trying to focus on less things rather than more."
If you’re looking for new means to practice mindfulness this year, and not sure where to start, take a journey into the world of sound baths for a deep, soothing relaxation.
