Throughout the day, we naturally move into different brainwave states which determine how alert we are. There is a direct link between our predominant brainwave state, our heart rate and our breathing rate. When we become stressed or anxious, our predominant brainwaves speed up, our heart rate goes up and generally, so does our breathing rate and our sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated. We become more alert and ready for action which is the body’s natural defence mechanism and kicks in when it is needed, for example, when we are going for a job interview or perhaps visiting the dentist but when the body is in a permanently stressed state, our SNS is permanently activated and this can manifest as disease, aches and pains, tightness and stiffness in the body. By altering our brainwave state, our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is activated, overriding the SNS, thereby calming the body by lowering the heart rate and deepening and slowing the breathing rate. Blood pressure and blood sugar levels begin to regulate bringing the body back into balance (homeostasis) not only on a physical level but also on an emotional, mental and spiritual level.

The science of sound – each sound and frequency has its own geometric shape (cymatics), so what you see is a physical representation of vibration, or how sound manifests into form through the medium of various materials. These cymatic images are truly awe-inspiring, not only for their visual beauty in representing the fundamental responsiveness of matter to sound, but also because they inspire a deep recognition that we, too, are part and parcel of this same complex and intricate vibrational matrix.

Here’s what one of my clients had to say about their first sound healing session:

“My first treatment with Amanda at Pura Vida was such a healing experience. A wonderful Sound Healing session which was just amazing.

I have booked my next appointment for this week. A very healing atmosphere and Amanda has so much knowledge”.

There are two types of singing bowls – hand beaten and machined.  Hand beaten bowls have one fundamental note and several subtle partial tones.  It is the combination of these tones that gives each bowl its unique sound and its characteristic warbling sound.  This is because the hand beaten bowls are very uneven and have a varying thickness of walls which creates their unique sound.  Machined bowls have an even thickness to their walls and produce one fundamental note with very few or no overtones (partials) and produce a very precise, pure tone and can be tuned to a note. The sound is like that of a crystal bowl or a bell.

The bowls can either be dinged or made to sing or both and they are played according to the type of session chosen – either a relaxing/grounding session or an energising/uplifting session.  There are certain notes of bowls that correspond with each chakra and they can be placed on the chakras on the body and dinged to clear blockages allowing the energy to flow unhindered around the body, releasing aches and pains, tightness or tension.

Vocal toning is a simple yet powerful way to alter our consciousness by transforming energy. Toning and over toning influence the Vagus nerve which is the largest nerve in the body thereby improving and balancing the nervous system and slowing brain waves down from alpha, to theta then delta (deep sleep) and balancing the left and right hemispheres of the brain allowing us to be more focused.  It also influences the pituitary gland which controls our organs and the pineal gland, so it is a great tool to use for anxiety and depression.  Different vowels can be used for each chakra clearing blockages, bringing the body back into balance.