The most important facts in brief
- During a singing bowl meditation the singing bowl supports you to let go of your thoughts.
- All you need is a singing bowl, a mallet, comfortable clothes and silence.
- A meditation with singing bowls leads after some practice to a deep relaxation for body and mind.
- During a gong meditation a unique sound carpet is created, which puts the participants into a trance.
- In this state, deep-seated blockages can be released.
- Through the combination of yoga and sound, you develop a better sense of your body and relax deeply into the asanas.
- Sound yoga uses both singing bowls and gongs.
What is a singing bowl meditation?
In a meditation with singing bowls, you meditate, usually while sitting, and use the singing bowl as a support to enter a state of inner stillness. So, singing bowl meditation can help you find an easier approach to meditation, as the sounds already put us in a loosened and relaxed state of consciousness.
Those who already have some practice in meditation with singing bowls perceive the familiar sound like a trigger that automatically directs the attention inward. Through a regular meditation practice, you will find new clarity and break free from ingrained patterns of thought and action.
Is singing bowl meditation something for me?
A meditation with singing bowls is easy to learn, so you can practice it even if you don’t have much experience with singing bowls or meditation. If you want to practice singing bowl meditation alone at home, it only takes a little practice, since the goal is to strike the bowl yourself during the meditation without tearing yourself away from meditative immersion.
The only prerequisite you should bring is curiosity and openness to sounds and vibrations. When you do the singing bowl meditation is up to you. Some people like to start with a meditation first thing in the morning to face the challenges of the day with inner serenity. Others prefer to use meditation with singing bowls in the evening to finish the day and come to rest.
Note
Meditation with singing bowls can be performed even by sick or physically impaired people, as it can be done while sitting on the floor or on a chair.
How does the singing bowl meditation work?
First of all, you need a singing bowl. Once you’ve found the right model for you, you’re ready to go.
Find a quiet place
It’s best to find a quiet, undisturbed place and sit on a yoga mat or meditation cushion or simply on a blanket. Turn off your cell phone and make sure no one disturbs you for the next 10 to 15 minutes.
Place your singing bowl
Now place the singing bowl in front of you so that you can strike it comfortably from your sitting position. You can also place the bowl on your flat hand or on your fingertips. The only important thing is that the sides of the singing bowl are not dampened by your hand or materials. The shell should be able to swing freely. A singing bowl coaster is also optimal.
Focus on your breath
Close your eyes and focus only on your breathing at first to calm down and relax. Only in this state do you now begin to gently strike the singing bowl with a mallet. You can find out exactly how to do this in our article on the use of singing bowls. If you want to learn more about the different types of mallets, we recommend our mallet guide.
Direct your focus to the vibrations
Listen to the sound and feel the vibrations and focus all your attention on it. Imagine the sound waves flowing through your body. You can also focus on one part of the body and see what effect the sound and vibrations have on that one spot. Let the bowl die down completely before striking it again. Focusing on the sound helps you ignore thoughts that arise.
Trace and come back slowly
To end the meditation, feel after the last sound for a little while, keeping your eyes closed. Finally, take a few deep breaths in and out, then open your eyes again.
What do I need for a singing bowl meditation?
- Singing bowl
- Mallets
- Singing bowl coaster
- Mat, meditation cushion, blanket or similar.
- Comfortable clothes
- Rest
What effect does a singing bowl meditation have?
A meditation with singing bowls leads after some practice to a deep relaxation for body and mind. This way you can relieve stress and recharge your batteries. Singing bowl meditation can calm the heartbeat and breath. Satisfaction, joie de vivre and creativity increase. Tension and blockages in the body can be released.
In addition to the physical, on the spiritual level, the Qi, or life energy, is activated and stimulated. Depending on the pitch of the singing bowl, different chakras or energy centers of the body are addressed. A singing bowl meditation can have a positive influence on the entire nervous system.
The positive effects of meditation include:
- Targeted reduction of stress and prevention of burnout
- More physical and mental resilience
- More balance and inner peace
- More ability to concentrate and motivation
- More self-confidence, inner strength and personal esteem
- More joie de vivre
What is gong meditation?
The gong is an archaic instrument with a long tradition. Its wide sound spectrum fascinates and inspires more and more people. The TamTam gong impresses with its intense sound volume and the Feng gong with its “wind-like” sound movement. In addition to concerts, the gong is also used in sound massage, sound therapy and sound education, and last but not least, in meditation. Gong meditation carries a wonderful potential for intense self-awareness.
A Gong meditation is often offered in conjunction with Kundalini Yoga. After yoga, participants lie down on their mats and surrender to the intense sounds of the gong, which are sounded by the teacher. Our human body consists largely of water, which is set into vibration by the gong. It slows down the frequency in the body and brain, putting participants in the state of trance. A gong meditation primarily helps us to detach from our thoughts.
How is the gong played during a gong meditation?
In the tradition, the gong is played in such a way that the individual beats are not heard, but the gong is made to sing. A gong meditation is characterized by this very special kind of sound: The gong attack goes into the room, comes back as an echo and connects with the next sound. This creates a unique tapestry of sound that gradually transports participants into a trance.
It begins with gentle, quiet vibrations that gradually increase in intensity over time. To do this, the teacher not only increases the velocity, but also changes from soft to hard gong mallets. The gong meditation can be especially intense by using several gongs played together. The term gong bath is also often used here.
How does a gong meditation work?
The sound, which is not only perceived through the ears during a gong meditation, but can also be felt physically, helps us to relax deeply. In this state, emotions, old hurts, but also feelings of happiness can come to the surface and be processed. Therefore, the gong is considered one of the most powerful instruments with healing effects in the state of trance.
Tip
If you want to try a gong meditation at home, you will get a wonderful impression on the CD Pravaaha by Peter Gabis. Here, the meditative sound atmospheres with gongs and singing bowls combine to create a flow of sounds.
What is yoga with singing bowls?
Yoga and sound have belonged together for thousands of years. The additional sound component gives yoga with singing bowls yet another deepening quality and promotes an intense encounter with oneself. Singing bowl yoga addresses people on a physical, emotional and spiritual level, inspiring them to let go with joy.
With singing bowl yoga, it is much easier to focus attention on the body. This will help you develop a better sense of your body’s needs and relax deeply into the asanas. Through sound, you can engage with your yoga practice in a whole new way and enjoy it with all your senses.
Tip
If you want to learn more about the connection between yoga and singing bowls, we recommend the book KlangYoga by Emily Hess.
How does singing bowl yoga work?
The bowls used in singing bowl yoga can be sounded by the teacher or by the yoga practitioners themselves. Mainly the pelvic and heart bowls in Peter Hess® therapy bowl quality are used, supplemented by Sangha meditation singing bowls. The lower sounds support grounding and releasing exercises, the higher sounds are used mainly for uplifting and opening exercises. The singing bowls can be placed next to the body, on the body or moved around the body. Often the bowls sound in alternation.
“Sound yoga combines two wonderful forces: relaxation and conscious awareness of harmony.”
Remo Rittiner, Yoga Therapist
Exercise: Yin Yoga with singing bowls
- After a yin yoga sequence, lie down in shavasana and place a singing bowl, ideally a pelvic bowl, on your lower abdomen.
- Now strike it and feel how the gentle vibration of the singing bowl spreads throughout your entire body.
- Feel if you can use sound to further deepen the relaxation created by each yin yoga exercise.
- Strike the singing bowl a few more times and drive the last thoughts out of your head.
- Concentrate completely on the vibration of the singing bowl so as not to let any other thoughts arise. Let yourself fall deeply into the sound.
- Now put the mallet aside and trace for a few more minutes.
What is gong yoga?
The gong is considered one of the most powerful instruments – to make it sound room-filling and gentle at the same time during yoga classes, you should know its effect and playing techniques well. Unlike the above-mentioned gong meditation in conjunction with Kundalini yoga, the gong does not always have to be played loudly and powerfully. In Gong Yoga by Emily Hess, for example, you’ll learn a more gentle way of playing the gong.
Emily Hess teaches the special connection between gongs and yoga in a sensitive, playful, yet structured way so that participants learn to use the gong effectively and responsibly. Feel free to be inspired by different teachers and teachings, techniques and playing styles so that you can develop your very own playing style.
How does gong yoga work?
Gong yoga combines the sound and vibration of the gong with the methodology of yoga, with the aim of energizing and facilitating the movement of energy (prana) in the body. Emily Hess does not experiment with the gong beat in her teaching, but bases the asana sequences in a structured way on the five rhythms of music therapy according to Gabrielle Roth. Thus, even beginners can safely use the gong in yoga.
Through different stroke rhythms and their vibration, the different effects of gong yoga on mind and body become perceptible. For yoga teachers, the gong is a great enrichment – both for themselves and for their yoga classes.