With a lingering sense of global fragility and reliance on modern technology, the search to quiet the mind feels more crucial than ever. This thirst for relaxation has led us to a new era of wellness—one where many are exploring alternative healing practices that have been around for thousands of years.
One ancient healing practice that has had a recent resurgence in popularity is the sound bath. Sound waves can affect the human nervous system, lowers blood pressure and has been scientifically linked to reduced stress and anxiety.
We spoke to Aho Studio resident Amanda Jane Chappell about her approach to sound therapy and why sound baths are a great way to re-tune yourself.
What is your relationship to Aho Studio?
I actually trained at Aho when I first became a sound healer. The space is a great energy and I love the work Darren does within the community to be able to make healing available in many different forms and experiences. My background is within the Wellness industry working as a therapist for many years I then became a personal change coach and sound healer. Assisting people to change their lives has been a mission of mine since living in Asia. I did a lot of work on my own personal change and seeing how the benefits shifted my own life so much, I just wanted to journey with people through this.
What is your main mantra?
Sound – Touch – Change
As a certified Sound Healer, Massage Therapist and NLP Coach. I found my passion for frequencies, healing and personal transformations using these modalities to be able to offer the client personal change and healing.
So, what actually is a sound bath?
Firstly before anyone gets scared off there is no actual “bath” involved. The name really means you are bathed in the sound and vibration. You lay down as if in a meditation and let the sound do the work. Gongs have been used within Asian cultures to start and finish the prayer, however the first Gong Baths were created within the 70s to assist people through times of addiction. I created the “Kaleidoscopic Gong Bath” by using visuals, colour and sound for the ultimate experience of the senses.
Could you tell me about how it works on a spiritual level and/or a scientific level?
Have you ever wanted to quickly enter state of relaxation and meditation but found you cant switch your mind off? This is exactly what the sound assists with. The frequency and vibrations shift our brainwaves into Alpha and Theta states extremely quickly which is our dreamlike state and deep healing. It effectively calms your mind and switches off that monkey chatter than we all struggle with in times of relaxation.
What do you use to create the sounds?
During my session I use Two Gongs, different Singing Bowls, Tuning Forks and Chimes.
How can deep listening help us in our daily lives?
Again to switch off that chatter inside our mind. Higher levels of energy, fewer headaches, detox, anxiety relief, improve negative emotions, de- stress, improve confidence, remove ‘brain fog’, increase clarity, deepen one connection with yourself.
How important is sound therapy in an age of digital notifications and attention sucking screens?
Modern day technology really switches off our connection to natural sound baths, we get consumed by technology we miss the simple things like a bird song, sound of rain and wind rustling in the trees. This connects us to a different frequency and one that is not inline with our bodies and minds- when we think the body is made up of 70% water any frequency will have a good or bad effect on the body. Either creating ease or dis-ease. Having a low level of Alpha and Theta brainwaves can cause depression, anxiety, poor emotions, tension and stress. There are so many great meditation apps that have frequency sessions that can be downloaded and easily listened to at home. I would create a space either to meditate or to help drift off to sleep, ensure your phone is on flight mode and listen daily.
How do people’s experiences differ?
The gong bath differs from person to person. My feedback has been from a range of great sleep, seeing strong visuals and colours in their minds to seeing the anxiety being sucked out of them and past life experiences.
Lastly, what advice would you give someone who’d never been to a gong bath before but wanted to give it a go?
Just come along and experience for yourself! No one is ever disappointed, but I warn you they are pretty addictive.
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Beyond Alcohol – Rethinking lifestyle.
Tune in, let go, bliss out.
Get curious about what’s possible.
Today and tomorrow.
