Relaxing Group Sound Bath - Temple Gym, Hesslewood Hall

T his 60 minute sound bath is designed to relax and restore.

Led by the sounds of drums, singing bowls and chimes, we'll float away into a meditative state, providing an ideal environment to de-stress, disconnect from the world around you and your daily life, carving out space for you to focus on yourself.

We’ll begin with a brief explanation of what to expect in the session and an explanation of the instruments that will be used. Following that, you’ll make yourself comfortable on your yoga mat with any pillows and blankets you’ve brought and you’ll be given a moment to silently set your own intention for the session. We’ll then do a short breathing exercise to begin to relax and feel grounded before we begin.

During this time, I will move around the space, playing over and around you to deepen the experience. All you need to do is lay down and listen as I move through the instruments.

At the end, I’ll prompt you to open your eyes and sit up when you feel ready. It can be good to take some deep breaths and do some gentle stretches just to get you moving again, have some water and maybe make some notes about the experience if you’ve brought a notepad.

Although many people find sound baths relaxing, they can also be quite intense. Different people respond to sounds in different ways and the instruments are designed to do different things. A gong or drum has a very different impact to the sound of a high note crystal bowl, for example.

People often have a preference for one instrument over another – some people love the deep resonance of having a drum played over them, whereas others find it too intense.

A sound bath can also be structured through choice of instruments, the order they’re played and the notes used to be more invigorating. Low, deep sounds are often found to be grounding and relaxing, whereas higher notes are often less so.

Laying on the floor on a yoga mat is the most usual way to experience a sound bath as it’s the most relaxing position for most people. However, it is in no way compulsory. Some people prefer to sit with their back against the wall, or in a chair, both of which are perfectly fine. If you need to move or re-adjust during the session, that's fine too.

F or more information, please check out my website www.mattwaltonsound.co.uk.

Host or Publisher Matthew Walton