If you’ve never been to a sound bath before, it can sound a little…mysterious. “Vibrational massage?” “Inner tuning?” Let’s break it down in real-life terms—because it’s actually one of the simplest, most accessible ways to relax your body and reset your mind.

First things first: you don’t do anything.

There’s no movement, no poses, no prior experience needed. You’ll simply lie down and get comfortable—think of it like setting yourself up for the coziest nap ever. At Be Well, we provide yoga mats, bolsters, blankets, and blocks so you can fully support your body. You’re also welcome to bring anything extra (a favorite blanket or pillow) to make your nest just right.

Once everyone is settled, a musician begins to play special instruments like crystal singing bowls. Think of them as wide bells or glasses made of crystal. Each bowl emits a pure, sustained tone—clear, resonant, and layered. Instead of listening to a “song” in the traditional sense, you’re surrounded by sound. It washes over you.

Here’s where the “vibrational” part comes in.
Our bodies are made up of about 60% water, and sound travels exceptionally well through water. As the tones ripple through the space, they also subtly move through you. While it’s not something you need to consciously feel or figure out, many people notice a sense of soft internal shifting—like tension unwinding without effort.

From a research perspective, sound baths have been associated with activating the parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest and digest” mode), lowering heart rate, and reducing stress and anxiety. In other words, your body gets a clear signal: it’s safe to relax.

And that idea of “inner tuning”?
Think of it like this—throughout the day, your system gets a little noisy. Stress, screens, to-do lists…everything pulls you slightly out of balance. The consistent, harmonious tones of the bowls give your mind and body something steady to “sync” up with. You don’t have to try—it just happens. People often describe leaving with a sense of clarity, calm, and feeling more like themselves again.

Some drift into a dreamlike state. Some stay aware the whole time. Both are perfect.

The best part? You’ll walk out feeling noticeably different than when you came in—more grounded, more relaxed, and surprisingly refreshed.

It’s simple. It’s supportive. And it might be exactly what you didn’t know you needed.

To book your next sound bath, visit bewellihs.com/schedule
To find all of our upcoming sound baths, choose the “tags” pulldown menu, and select “sound bath“.

Read on to learn more about the differnt styles of sound baths, and instruments used:

What is A Crystal Singing Bowl?

Let’s demystify the instrument itself—because once you understand what a crystal singing bowl *is*, the whole experience clicks.

A crystal singing bowl is a smooth, round bowl made from crushed quartz crystal that’s been heated to extremely high temperatures and molded into shape. Quartz is the same mineral found in things like watches and electronics because of how well it conducts and stabilizes energy—so it’s not just pretty, it’s incredibly responsive to vibration.

Each bowl is tuned to a specific musical note (like C, D, E, etc.), and often corresponds to different tonal ranges in the body. That’s why you’ll hear a variety of pitches during a sound bath—some deeper and grounding, others lighter and more uplifting.

As for how it’s played—it’s beautifully simple.

The musician will either:

• Strike the bowl gently with a soft mallet, creating a clear, bell-like tone that rings out and lingers
• Or glide a mallet around the rim, which creates a continuous, singing sound that builds and sustains

That second technique is what gives the bowls their signature “floating” sound—the tone seems to expand and fill the entire room, rather than starting and stopping like a typical note.

Because the bowls are made of crystal, the sound they produce is especially pure and resonant. It’s not just something you hear with your ears—you feel it. The tones have a way of lingering in the space (and in your body) longer than most instruments.

Here’s the magic: nothing about it is harsh or jarring. The sound is smooth, layered, and steady—more like being immersed in gentle waves than listening to a performance. Check out this video of our instructor Peter Olsen, performing a sound bath from his home.

So when you’re lying there during a sound bath, you’re essentially being surrounded by these sustained, harmonious tones—each one carefully played to create a deeply calming, immersive experience without you needing to do a thing.

How is a Himalayan Sound Bath different?

Great question—because while crystal singing bowls are often the centerpiece, many sound baths (especially Himalayan-inspired ones) layer in other instruments to create a richer, more immersive experience.

Here are a few you might hear:

Himalayan (metal) singing bowls
These are the more traditional counterparts to crystal bowls, typically hand-hammered from a blend of metals. Their sound is a bit earthier and more complex—less “pure tone” and more textured, with subtle overtones that shimmer and shift. They’re played the same way (struck or circled with a mallet), but the feeling is often described as more grounding.

Gongs
Gongs bring a big, expansive sound—deep, resonant, and powerful. You might feel this one more strongly in your body. The tone can start low and rolling, then build into a full, wave-like crescendo. It’s often used sparingly, but it can create a profound sense of release or “reset.”

Chimes (like Koshi or Zaphir chimes)
These are the light, airy sounds that feel almost like a breeze moving through the room. They’re often used at the beginning or end of a session, or during transitions, to gently guide your awareness without pulling you out of relaxation.

Tuning forks
These are small metal instruments that produce a very precise frequency when struck. Sometimes they’re used around the body (or even lightly placed on it in some settings) to deliver targeted vibration. In a group class, you might just hear their soft, high-pitched tone layered into the experience.

Ocean drum or rainstick
These add a soothing, nature-inspired element—think gentle waves or falling rain. It taps into that instinctive relaxation we feel when we hear natural rhythms.

Shruti box or harmonium (occasionally)
These instruments create a steady, droning background tone that everything else can “rest” on. It’s subtle, but it helps anchor the soundscape and deepen that feeling of being held in the experience.

All of these instruments are used with intention—not to perform, but to support your nervous system. The mix of deep, grounding sounds and lighter, more spacious tones gives your mind something to soften into, without needing to follow along or figure anything out.

So if you attend a Himalayan-style sound bath, you’re not just hearing one instrument—you’re being gently surrounded by layers of sound, each one adding a different texture to the experience.

Our Himalayan Sound Bath is a special offering throughout the summer! Visit bewellihs.com/schedule
To find all of our upcoming sound baths, choose the “tags” pulldown menu, and select “sound bath“.