These days when the air is filled with stress, worry, and anxiety, health experts often recommend that we stop, calm down, and breath.
But do we take the advice seriously? Oftentimes we find ourselves heading for the bar after a long and hectic day at work. A cocktail may help us calm down, but can it clear a foggy mind?
Instead of looking for answers at the bottom of the bottle, the remedy for stress-related health challenges is actually “free and available,” according to sound healer Joy Jacinto.
“Most people do not realize the importance of air, of inhaling and exhaling air. When faced with difficult situations, the first step is to pause and breath,” she said.
The uncertainty brought by the pandemic has resulted in an increase of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, sleep difficulty, short-temperedness, and many others.
Increased levels of stress greatly affect our body and mind. If not addressed immediately it can lead to serious illnesses. But how exactly can we stay calm when everything around us spells anxiety?
Regular exercise, yoga, and meditation are known to help reduce stress. For music lovers, sound healing therapy is a pleasurable way to calm a stressed mind and ease body discomfort.
When we hear our favorite song, we feel good, right? Apart from the lyrics that bring back sad or happy memories, music immediately affects the way we feel at the moment. Aside from touching our emotions, music is also known to be therapeutic.
The healing power of sound has been put to use as early as the ancient times. During the time of Aristotle, Greek physicians used the sound of flutes and lyres to heal those with digestion problems and induce sleep.
Jacinto studied sound therapy in Nepal. She received her certification from the Mandala Studio in 2019. She plays the Tibetan singing bowls to produce a therapeutic sound. “I use seven different bowls. Each bowl is hand hammered, and every bowl is made from a different type of metal.”
Listening to the meditative sound from Tibetan bowls was an ancient Buddhist practice in Nepal. It is said that the disciples of Buddha used singing bowls in monasteries to achieve a deep meditative state.
Each bowl corresponds to a chakra or energy center located in various parts of the human body. Chakra is the Sanskrit term for “wheel.” Being an energy center, the “wheel” needs to stay open while in motion. Blockage can cause discomfort or illness.
There is a specific bowl for the Crown chakra, which corresponds to one’s intelligence, Third Eye (intuition, imagination), Throat (communication), Heart (love and compassion), Solar Plexus (self-esteem, confidence), Sacral (creativity and pleasure), and Root (physical stability).
Students are asked to sit in a comfortable position in order to focus on the healing sound of bowls. The meditative vibration moves the brain waves to the Theta pattern which calms the nerves and puts the mind in a peaceful state.
Energy pathways are also cleared from all kinds of blockage which can result in improved sleeping patterns; improved blood circulation; reduced tension, anger, depression; and even reduced body pain.
For clients who wish to address a specific health issue, Teacher Joy highly recommends a one-on-one session. The body’s reaction towards a particular tone from a singing bowl can indicate the energy center that needs to be healed. “After the session, we can work on the areas that causes stress or anxiety,” she said.
The audience for sound healing is growing significantly especially with the current uncertainty which is causing all sorts of mental imbalance.
Teacher Joy remembers working with a client referred by a dermatologist. No amount of treatment or medicine could ease the patient’s skin problem. The sound healing sessions taught her client to relax and calm down. In time, her skin began to clear out.
She emphasized the need to acknowledge the mind and body connection. “If you are experiencing aches and pains, it means there is something going on inside your body. You need to pause and reflect to find out what is bothering you. And there is no cure for chronic stress. The body has to rest,” she said.
Those who wish to experience the healing powers of the Tibetan singing bowls can join her group classes or schedule a private session. Since face-to-face classes are not possible under GCQ, the sound healing sessions can be done online. Interested parties can inquire through her Facebook page (Joy Jacinto) or through White Space (www.whitespacewellness.com).