When I was pregnant with Odette, I was looking for a way to calm my nerves about baby number three. Life with two boys was already overwhelming and I was tired of the checklist constantly running through my mind — counting baby kicks, kids’ school activities, vet appointments, Jared’s work schedule, etc. Meditation has always been my failsafe when I’m struggling to feel grounded and find my center, but this time my regular solo and guided meditation practice just wasn’t cutting it. I knew I needed something deeper and richer to really quiet my mind and help me find myself again. I started doing a little searching and stumbled across Austin’s “singing bowl lady.” I was intrigued—and completely hooked after my first session.
Now that I’m preparing to run the Boston Marathon, I’ve found myself coming back to this meditation practice more and more. It releases stress and tension, helping me recenter and recharge when I’m feeling drained by the grueling training schedule.
The “singing bowl lady”, also known as Sandee Conroy, was kind enough to sit down with me to talk about sound therapy so I could share some of her wisdom with all of you. Learn how you can use the power of sound to get to what she calls “magic land” in the video and read more about my sound bath experience below!
Sound Baths: Deconstructed
A singing bowl is a traditional Tibetan bowl that is actually a type of bell. They’re played using a mallet to create what’s called a sound bath, producing a rich, deep tone that connects with the body and mind through vibration. Sandee Conroy uses quartz crystal singing bowls representing seven different chakras that resonate with our bodies internal crystalline structures.
What It Feels Like
It’s a deep, visceral meditation that creates a monotonously hypnotic rhythm that feels like you’re being washed in waves of water. Simply put: My first sound bath left me feeling like I’d been cleansed and rested to my core. The whole experience was incredibly meditative, with a sense of being submerged inside of a vibration, drifting through waves that my body happily yielded to. It released my mind and relieved my aches and pains—and I may have sneaked in a little nap too. (There may also have been some drool and pregnancy snoring, but who cares. My chakras were aligned.)
Unfortunately, we can’t always access a singing bowl lady when we’re feeling stressed or anxious. BUT, I have found some pretty great alternatives online. Several times a week I’ll listen to a YouTube video of a sound bath before bed. It resets my body and mind and I wake up the next morning feeling deeply rested. The best part? You can do it from anywhere and usually for free. Here are a couple of my favorite recorded singing bowl sessions.
Youtube Click Here
Spotify Click Here
xo,
Gen
11 Comments
Brenda
This is great!!!!
Hailey Owens
Thank you so much for this, Gen! I have a little singing bowl at home that I love. I can’t wait to try this sound bath tonight. Love you, girl. To the ?
Celina
Thank you for the links! I’m definitely going to try this. Like you, I have difficulty with “standard” meditation because I can’t quiet my mind. I’m hoping this will give it something to focus on 🙂
Melissa
Completely needed something like this right now! Going to try it tonight! Thanks!!
Ari
This has encouraged me to seek out a similar group/class. Simple things in my life have begun to seem unmanagable, I’ve been isolating and losing sight of who I am and what matters. I don’t currently practice any form of mindfulness, this has been posted on a night where I was feeling particularly hopeless about my ability to deal with everyday life and has given me some hope! Your blog posts on health have been a really positive influence on me
Tania munir
Hey Gen! I loved this video, it was very informative and provided me with a different lens of looking at meditation. I was wondering if you knew what “ASMR” is? Maybe you could write a blog about it? It is kind of a sub category of meditation and I find it very effective in helping me relax and de-stress. Please look into it 🙂 love you
Kim
Gen Thanks for this post. I had one meditation class with my Cancer Support Group and I enjoyed it so much. I did forget about it though and this reminded me. I think I will look up a class. Thanks for the recommended YouTube post to use in the mean time.
Jean Mathwig
Thank you for sharing this! I’m listening to the youtube bowls as I’m typing. Not sure whether I can handle an hour, but I’m gonna give it a try. It’s intoxicating, yet mellow. I can feel my diaphram vibrating with it — and I don’t have the volume up much at all.
Chantal
I love my mediation sound videos on YouTube. I have a few favourites that play (sometimes throughout the night) to help centre and ground me. It must be a wonderful experience to actually be present in the vibrational field produced by the bowls. Very intense.
shruti patel
http://sanctuaryyogaaustin.com/
Hi Gen!! I LOVEE the Tibetan singing bowls! The vibrational feeling throughout the body is out of this world! When I visited Austin I went for a yoga class at the studio I linked above. At the end of class she finished with the bowl! It was amazing! You should def go check them out! It is such a charming studio!
Eden
Gen, thank you so so much for creating more awareness about the importance of meditation, and highlighting essential issues many women face in your other posts, and how to positively deal with them. Thank you for being an advocate for women. You have definitely inspired me as a person. I look forward to more of your content. Love & blessings all the way from Australia xxx