The Not-So-Secret Benefits of Sound Healing: When Music is Medicine

It’s no secret that music is old, ancient in fact. Humans have been making and listening to music for millenia…thousands of years. While the origins of music may be a bit of a mystery, it is obvious that humans respond to it mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Music is medicine with absolutely no negative physiological side effects.

Our bodies emit energy, just like every other thing (living or not) on this planet. And when we are exposed to certain frequencies of music, which is also energy, our bodies respond to it. Sometimes, the vibration from music alone can positively impact our body. 

Science has proven that sound healing is an effective tool to treat physical pain as well as emotional and mental distress. However, anecdotally, music has shown to be a powerful source of healing for many people in many ways.

Here at MyYogaTeacher, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of sound healing. We don’t teach it just because it’s an ancient, traditional practice. It truly benefits our students’ mental, physical, and emotional health!

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Let’s discuss the benefits of sound healing!

Sound healing meditation helps with pain management

The most common form of pain management, particularly in America, is over-the-counter and prescription medications. Increasingly more people are seeking alternative pain management techniques due to the negative side effects of these medications.

Also known in the scientific world as vibroacoustic therapy, sound healing has been proven to improve physical pain from illnesses and diseases such as:

• Fibromyalgia

• Arthritis

• COVID-19

• Bone issues (such as heal spurs)

• Cerebral palsy

Science of how sound therapy improves pain

Sound therapy and sound meditation has also been shown to alleviate menstrual symptoms, postoperative pain, and reduces muscle pain and stiffness. 

How? Sound therapy lowers your blood pressure and improves circulation, both of which affect pain intensity. Additionally, sound works through the vibrational tactile sensors in the body, stimulating the touch fibers that affect pain perception.

Sound vibrations that match the vibration of the energy of healthy cells in the body have also been shown to heal the body and bring it back to a harmonious energy state. Scientists all over the world have created devices of all sorts that emulate the vibrational waves of different parts of the body in order to provide healing.

At MyYogaTeacher, you don’t need any devices to participate in sound healing! Many of our instructors are highly experienced experts in the world of sound healing meditation and provide various types of classes focused on the topic.

Besides healing the body and helping with pain management, sound meditations are beneficial in other ways as well.

Sound meditation improves mental and emotional health

Remember how I mentioned that sound therapy reduces blood pressure and increases blood flow? Lower blood pressure means the body is calming down and not releasing as much cortisol, a stress hormone that is bad for you in high or consistent doses. Improved circulation means your body and mind are receiving more oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, which fuels us and makes us feel more relaxed and invigorated.

Sound  is a powerful and effective tool for changing one’s brain state, improving mood, reducing anxiety and depression, and calming down the central nervous system.

Science behind how sound meditation improves mental health

Our brains emit four different types of brain waves at various times of day:

• Beta waves are emitted when our brains are the most active, usually during the day or during activity

• Alpha waves occur when the brain is finished with a task or activity or when one meditates

• Theta waves are associated with REM sleep, daydreaming, or have highway hypnosis when you’re driving for a long time

• Delta waves occur when you’re having a dreamless sleep and are the slowest of the four types of waves

Sound waves occur at all different frequencies. But sound meditation and sound therapy involves music made with an instrument or through chanting at a frequency that matches alpha, theta, or delta waves, depending on the goal of the meditation.

This allows your mind and body to relax deeply while still being conscious. When our brains are conscious but in a meditative trance-like state, we are easily able to release negative thoughts, energy, stress, worries. Our minds are suggestable, malleable to change in thought patterns and behaviors.

Sound therapy also provides such a deep relaxation that you are refreshed and calm, free from many or all of the anxiety and depressive symptoms you suffered from before the session.

Regular sound healing meditations are extremely beneficial for mental health and emotional regulation.

Are you interested in learning more about the benefits of sound meditation? Maybe you’re ready to try one of the many sound therapy classes we offer at MyYogaTeacher! All are welcome. There is never any judgment if you don’t know or understand something in our classes. MyYogaTeacher classes are safe places to explore, learn, and grow as a human and a yogi!

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