In short
Sound healing, also known as a sound bath, is a moment where you get to lie down, close your eyes and let the sound do the work. You don't need to know anything, achieve anything or even stay awake. Here we explain how it works – and are honest about what the research knows and does not know.
How a sound bath unfolds
You lie comfortably on a mat, ideally with a blanket and something over your eyes. Around you, instruments such as crystal bowls, singing bowls, gong, drum, chimes and rain stick are played. The sounds are allowed to ring out slowly, and the silence between them is just as important as the tones.
A session of sound healing can be anything from a quarter of an hour at the end of a yoga class to a whole night. With us, you meet the sound in the yoga course Sensing & Sound, in individual sessions and at our events.
How does it feel?
It is different for everyone, and different from one time to the next. Many describe a deep rest, a dreamlike state between wakefulness and sleep and a feeling of calm afterwards. It is common to fall asleep. Sometimes emotions come up, and that is welcome too.
If you are sensitive to sound, you can ask to lie further away from the instruments. Always tell the person leading if something does not feel right.
What does the research say?
The research is promising but still small. In an American study from 2017, 62 participants reported less tension, anger, fatigue and low mood after an hour of singing bowl meditation. The study had no control group, so it cannot prove that it was the sound that made the difference.
A systematic review from 2025 went through 14 studies. It found reduced anxiety in controlled studies and signs that the body's rest-and-digest system was activated, but rated the evidence as low to moderate. An earlier review from 2020 concluded that the studies were too few to recommend the method as a treatment.
We think that is a good summary: sound healing is a way to wind down and feel good, a complement – not healthcare.
When should I be careful?
There is little research on risks, so the advice is based on caution. If you are pregnant, have epilepsy, a pacemaker or another implant, or are struggling with your mental health, you should talk to your doctor first and tell the person leading the session. Sound healing never replaces healthcare.
Sources
- Goldsby et al. (2017): Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
- Lin, Yang & Wang (2025): systematic review of singing bowl interventions. Healthcare.
- Stanhope & Weinstein (2020): Can Tibetan singing bowls reduce stress? Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
- Healthline: precautions for singing bowls.
This text was written by Earth & Heart Sisters and was updated on 1 October 2026. It is general information and does not replace advice from healthcare professionals.