Massages

Sound bowl massage: what it is and who it is for

Sound massage, bowl massage, Tibetan singing bowl massage - different names for the same thing. If you have associated it with meditation and background music, here is what actually makes it different.

What it is

A classic massage combined with the vibration of Tibetan and crystal bowls. The bowls are placed on and around the body and struck gently. The vibration is felt physically, through the skin and muscles - it is not background music.

Body and hearing work together: the hands release the muscles, the sound releases the nervous system.

Who it is for

People whose tension is less in the muscles and more in the head. Trouble falling asleep. Thoughts that will not stop. A constant feeling of rushing. Stress and anxiety that a weekend's rest does not fix.

If your body is stiff and sore, a classic or myofascial massage suits better. The sound massage is for a different kind of tiredness.

What to expect

Many people fall asleep. That is not a failed session, it is its most common result. Others say their head was quiet for the first time in weeks.

If the sound irritates you instead of calming you, it stops - you just say so.

What it is not

It is not a treatment for insomnia or anxiety. If you have not slept for weeks, or anxiety gets in the way of daily life, that is a question for a doctor. A sound massage can help you relax, but it does not replace the help you need.