| Sound is created through vibration. Vibrations infiltrate | | | | background at hospitals, corporations and even |
| our senses... even our bodies. Sound vibrations are | | | | schools. Sure, it could just be background noise, but |
| powerful and each of us react to them differently. | | | | the music may help patients heal faster, it may make |
| While a soul-stirring ballad may make you feel pensive | | | | workers more productive, or it may help students |
| or romantic, rock music may help you feel ready to | | | | remain alert and eager to learn. And what about that |
| dance and have a good time. | | | | music we all hear when we're on hold? Maybe they're |
| For your neighbor, that same ballad may put them in | | | | telling us they really don't want our business, since a |
| a sour mood, and that same rock song might leave | | | | lot of that music seems to be irritating to our senses, |
| someone else restless and uneasy. | | | | putting our teeth on edge. |
| No matter what our differences, it is true that sound | | | | Advocates of sound therapy believe that besides |
| affects everyone in some manner. Even deaf people | | | | helping eliminate stress, it can aid people suffering |
| can feel sound vibrations. They can touch an | | | | from anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, pain |
| instrument while it is being played, or even feel the | | | | and tension. Sound can create a sense of well-being, |
| vibrations through the floor. These vibrations, with | | | | it can re-energize you, and can help you sleep if you |
| their varying frequency, density and speed affect | | | | suffer from insomnia. Sound therapy can create |
| you. | | | | positive reactions, which in turn influences the rest of |
| Sound therapy uses sound vibrations to soothe and | | | | the body. |
| heal people. It can also be used to help you attain | | | | How Sound Therapy Works |
| deeper levels of consciousness. | | | | During sound therapy, the sound is kept at a low |
| An example of how sound vibrations can help you | | | | volume at a continuous rate. Perhaps you've chosen |
| achieve a deep level of meditation is a mantra. | | | | the sound of a waterfall or ocean waves. |
| Mantras can be used as a form of sound therapy. | | | | Headphones may help exclude outside noises. |
| Sound may be used as therapy merely by listening to | | | | Sound therapists suggest that adults listen to sound |
| soothing tones and relaxing music. Sound vibrations | | | | therapy at least three hours each day. Children can |
| can be applied to sore muscles. Sound therapy can | | | | see results listening for 30 to 60 minutes per day. |
| even be nature sounds or words spoken in a certain | | | | With some forms of sound therapy, you can listen |
| way. | | | | while you do other things. |
| Sound therapy is all around us, if you look. It can be | | | | Somewhere within a few days to a few months, |
| delivered by CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes or other | | | | you'll begin to see results from this practice. When |
| equipment that produces the desired sounds. | | | | your program is complete, keep it handy in case your |
| Simple and effective, sound therapy doesn't take a | | | | stress returns. |
| lot of effort. You sit back or lie down and relax. You | | | | For example, if you are a person with a stressful job, |
| can even listen while you physically do some other | | | | it may be suggested to use sound therapy for at |
| activity. | | | | least an hour every day after getting home from |
| Many indigenous peoples have used sound in healing | | | | work. |
| rituals for generations. In 1896 the first formal | | | | You can develop your own sound therapy at home, |
| description of sound as therapy was written when a | | | | or you can get more formalized treatment from a |
| few American doctors discovered that certain music | | | | trained therapist familiar with sound therapy. |
| affected a patient's thoughts and increased their | | | | Formal sound therapy uses sound to balance your |
| circulation. Ever since then, studies have been done | | | | system. The sound affects the frequency of your |
| that repeatedly show how sound can affect a | | | | body and gets it back into balance. Think of tuning a |
| person's physical and mental health. | | | | guitar... when out of tune, they sound unpleasant... |
| It is common today to hear music playing in the | | | | when properly tuned, they can make beautiful music. |