Tibetan Singing Bowls

Tibetan singing bowls are a widely used instrument for mindfulness meditation . They are a powerful tool for mental relaxation that exerts a strong, harmonious influence on the body and mind, generating a great sense of peace and well-being.

Origin and function of Tibetan singing bowls

Their story begins some 3,000 years ago. Although their origins are unclear, they are believed to stem from the fusion of Buddhist and shamanic cultures. According to the great Tibetan bodhisattva master Gwalwa Karmas, they emit the sound of emptiness: a manifestation of the universe.

The Dalai Lama and Tibetan monks began using singing bowls as a tool for achieving harmony . In most cultures, they are associated with spirituality. However, according to Tibetan tradition, these bowls originated around 480 BCE.

These singing bowls have been used for thousands of years for therapeutic purposes in Eastern medicine . In the West, they have only been used for about 40 years. Historically, they were made in Tibet, Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Japan, and Korea, and their size varies between 10 cm and one meter in diameter. The most well-known are between 20 and 30 cm in diameter.

Since ancient times, sound has been part of rituals and ceremonies that have forged a way to stimulate balance: physical, mental, and emotional. Currently, it has been determined that certain combinations of sounds influence the autonomic nervous system through a change in cellular vibration, thus strengthening the immune system and reducing stress levels.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the body is restored not through sleep, but through rest and stillness. Insomnia is largely a consequence of stress and anxiety.

Singing bowls are a gateway to the silence of practice. Once a state of relaxation is achieved, the practice of silence becomes a form of self-awareness, holistic development, expression of creativity, and clear identification of bodily signals.

Authentic Tibetan singing bowls are entirely handmade in ancient molds using a mixture of seven metals . Each of these metals is associated with a celestial body: lead is Saturn, gold is the Sun, silver is the Moon, copper is Venus, iron is Mars, mercury is Mercury, and tin is Jupiter.

It works by causing the bowl to emit sound waves that reach a mantra note through the constant rubbing of a wooden element along its rim, or by gently striking it with a mallet. These waves then take the form of a "voice that reminds us of our true purpose in life." At the same time, the bowl emits powerful vibrations .

What are the benefits of Tibetan singing bowls?

There are sounds that help with mental control at a subconscious level, to eliminate blockages or traumas that generate imbalances (physical, chemical, emotional, etc.).

The effect of music on human behavior as a social phenomenon—observed from a neuroscience perspective—has been demonstrated by its ability to modulate activity in any brain structure, at an emotional level. Modulation with the cups is governed by the principle of resonance . This refers to the ability of one frequency to modify another.

When ancestral practices merge with scientific justifications, in addition to being understood as fantastic realities, mechanisms are found to solve various problems and create balance in the individual and their society.

Singing bowls provide important benefits through their sound and vibration:

• They harmonize the heart and the nervous system.
• They boost mood.
• They balance the two hemispheres of the brain.
• Besides their beauty, sounds have a healing effect.
• They harmonize the body's energy.
• They are very beneficial when there is an emotional block.
• They cleanse the place of bad vibes and negative energies.
• They relax the mind.
• They provide a feeling of well-being.
• They help with meditation.
• They generate a state beneficial to general health by increasing the body's defenses.
• Its use is very helpful in cases of anxiety.
• They promote spiritual growth .
• Endorphins increase and cortisol, the so-called "stress hormone," decreases.

Scientifically approved benefits

The study of its healing effects is based on the brain. As an electrochemical organ, its functions rely on the electrical activity generated by neurons. Vibration therapy stimulates these brain waves (alpha, theta, or delta), creating a "binaural beat."

This resonance acts as a kind of "auditory drug" for therapeutic purposes. The sound effect was discovered in 1839 by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. The left ear is at 400 Hz and the right at 410 Hz, resulting in a binaural beat of 10 Hz. Brain waves are altered in the mesolimbic area (fundamental in the perception and experience of sensations of pleasure and gratification).

There is also vibratory stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system , which is what allows us to return to a state of rest after a stressful process.

Balancing the chakras

The sound of singing bowls is perfect for balancing the chakras. Chakras are energy vortices located in seven areas of our body: the third eye, the crown, the root, the sacrum, the solar plexus, the throat, and the heart.

In the universe, every atom is in constant vibration, producing rhythm and movement. These frequencies can often be distorted, discordant, or negative. This is where singing bowls come in as powerful tools for bringing harmony and positive energy.

The vibrations of the bowls travel through the spine and provide multiple benefits, as mentioned above, primarily on the nervous system, and cleanse the body's energy.

Our tips for choosing your Tibetan singing bowl

If you're looking for a Tibetan singing bowl, you'll likely encounter a wide variety of designs and shapes. Therefore, we've listed some tips to help you choose.

Origin of the bowl

Avoid department stores. Authentic Tibetan singing bowls are handmade and require great dedication and care throughout the entire manufacturing process. That's why it's best to buy them from our shop.

Bowl size

This depends primarily on the intended use of the bowl. Whether it's for connecting with sound through meditation, to accompany and/or complement a yoga class, or for deeper therapeutic work, such as sound massage.

Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a bowl for each chakra or a complete kit. You can start with just one bowl, which will be the gateway to this vast journey.

If you're looking for a bowl for meditation or to complement a Reiki session, smaller bowls are the better choice. They have a greater capacity to generate volume and be heard at a moderate distance. However, if you're doing physical work, such as sound massage , larger bowls with a lower pitch are ideal. Larger bowls generate lower frequencies and sounds, and are more likely to relax the body's muscles and tissues than smaller or higher-pitched bowls. The following factors should also be considered:

• Low-frequency sounds project downwards and travel more easily through the body, through the bones.
• High-pitched sounds project upwards and travel more easily. Their waves travel through the air and reach your ears or those of your listeners more easily. The body is less able to perceive these sounds.
• High-pitched bowls for the upper chakras , low-pitched bowls for the lower chakras. One can get lost for hours in all the theories that relate each sound or note to each chakra, but a foolproof trick is to use high-pitched bowls for the upper chakras and low-pitched bowls for the lower chakras.

To avoid it...

There are as many ways to make a bowl as there are ways of thinking. Some are better than others, and some are highly undesirable. Among the least desirable are casting and stamping. We'll discuss each of them:

• Stamped bowls : This is one of the most modern techniques available, commonly used to manufacture metal pieces. Keep in mind that it's a 100% industrial method. If you're concerned with the final result and not the material, this shouldn't be a major issue. However, if you're looking for a handcrafted item, made with love and dedication by human hands, this method won't be your best choice.
• Cast bowls: In every respect, this is the least desirable method for making a bowl. It yields the worst results in terms of quality, resonance, vibration, volume, weight, finish, etc. They are easily recognizable by their rough interior, similar to the plaster on a wall before it is painted.

How to use Tibetan singing bowls at home?

If you wish to balance your chakras at home with a Tibetan singing bowl, that's also possible. All you need to do is prepare a quiet and comfortable space, at a suitable temperature and free from noise and distractions.

You should sit or lie down comfortably, in a position where you feel relaxed and at ease. You can light a candle or burn incense to promote a peaceful atmosphere.

Next, hold the bowl at chest level and begin to play it (you'll find some important tips later on to make it sound good). Then, carefully move the bowl while continuing to play it and place it at the level of your forehead, where your third eye is located. Next, move it down to your throat, then to your chest, then to your abdomen, and finally to your pelvis.

Remember to dedicate the necessary time and concentration, and you should feel the effect on the seven chakras .

Different ways to use Tibetan singing bowls

There are different ways to use Tibetan singing bowls:

• Simply listen to its sound and enjoy its benefits as music therapy .
• Chanting mantras to accompany the sound.
• During a meditation session.
• During a body massage, the singing bowls are placed on different parts of the body and vibrate in such a way that the waves reach the cells. The result is an energetic transformation of the body, accompanied by a great sense of well-being and relaxation.
• In concert. Tibetan singing bowl concerts, regularly held at yoga and mindfulness centers , are well worth a visit . Singing bowls have a wide range of sounds, and those who master the art of making them "sing" can create wonders for the senses.

How to play your Tibetan singing bowl?

Learning to play a Tibetan singing bowl correctly takes time and practice. It's very common to make some mistakes at first, because although it may seem very simple, it's actually an art.

Using it correctly requires finesse, but anyone who wants to can develop this skill if they practice it frequently and in the right way.

There are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about how to play a Tibetan singing bowl :

• The bowl should always rest on the palm of the left hand.
• The mallet or stick is held in the center and the fingertips should point downwards.
• Of course, the bowls should be used in a space that promotes relaxation, with the right atmosphere and attitude.
• Make sure the bowl is clean and that there is nothing, no matter how small, blocking it, as this will affect the sounds it makes.
• If the mortar is used on the rim of the container, it is necessary that the pressure exerted at all times be as uniform as possible.
• When striking the mortar against the bowl, it should be struck gently.

Now that you know what Tibetan singing bowls are, what they are used for, and how to play them correctly, enjoy all their benefits!