In this world full of stress-inducing events, whether it’s a broken down car on your way to an important meeting, simultaneous temper tantrums of your kids right before you drop them off at school, or just a draining exhausting day filled with deadlines, work pressure, and a toxic office environment. Regardless, if you want to survive each day and achieve a great work-life balance for your health and wellness, you definitely need a time-tested method to meditate and relax. What method is that? Use Tibetan singing bowls.
What are singing bowls? Originating in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, India, Bhutan, and Nepal, the singing bowl is deeply rooted from Tibetan Buddhist practices when it was used for meditation, certain ceremonies, and rituals. This has been used for thousands of years, and the art of making it has been passed down from generation to generation. The art of playing the singing bowl has also been preserved and, in fact, is being widely used today as part of meditation techniques and relaxation methods.
Singing bowls have distinct properties and can be made of various materials. For example, the Tibetan singing bowl is crafted using a mix of rich metals and is capable of emitting rich, harmonious overtones that are perfect for creating bright, melodic vibrations. There are also crystal singing bowls that are made from quartz. This is believed to be capable of syncing with the body’s energy by producing a clear, vibrant, and resonant sound. Then there are also the aluminium singing bowls, which are much more lightweight than their counterparts and produce a much brighter, resonant sound.
How do I use singing bowls? Whether you’re doing yoga, tai chi, or just simple relaxation and breathing techniques, it’s an excellent choice to incorporate singing bowls into your sessions. Just be sure to set up a quiet space where you can comfortably sit without any distractions. If you know how to, do some breathwork techniques to first regulate your nervous system and enter a relaxed state prior to using the singing bowl. Next, choose the area or spot where you will place the singing bowl: on the ground in front of you or, if it’s small enough, you can hold it in your non-dominant hand. After that, warm up the singing bowl by using the mallet and gently tapping the rim of the bowl. The mallet is also called a striker or a “warmer,” and you must use this to strike the rim at a 45-degree angle. Next, run the mallet around the outside of the singing bowl in circular motions, you can start moderately slow and then gently reduce the speed until you’re making very slow repetitive circular motions. You can adjust the speed and pressure of the mallet, generating resonating sounds as you go. The last part is for you to focus on the sound, allowing the vibrations or the “singing” of the bowl to guide you into a meditative and relaxed state.
For thousands of years, wiser civilisations have used the Tibetan singing bowls to relax and achieve meditation, relaxation, and even, for some, inner peace. It’s time to reach your own zen with the use of these singing bowls for a healthier, wiser, and better you.
