Every part of our bodies is vibrating right down to the cellular level, creating our own personal resonant frequency. When we become sick or stressed, that frequency changes, impacting our body’s natural harmony. We can use sound to help bring that frequency back into balance. Through the power of sound, we can change the rhythms of the brain, heart, and respiratory system. And one of the most powerful types of sounds for doing so is the binaural beat, which is a component of some sound baths.
What Is a Binaural Beat
Although you may think a binaural beat is a sound, it is actually an illusion created by your brain as a physiological response to hearing two different tones with slightly different frequencies at the same time. The brain interprets the two sounds as one beat, giving it an entirely new frequency. That frequency is the mathematical difference in hertz (Hz) between the frequencies of the original two tones. For example, if one tone had a frequency of 425 Hz and the other tone had one of 420 Hz, the frequency your brain would hear would be 5 Hz. Each binaural beat frequency correlates with a specific brainwave frequency, which in turn impacts brain activity.
The 5 Brainwave Frequencies
According to research, there are five different categories of brainwave frequency patterns, each of which induce a specific response:
- Delta: Frequency range of 0.5 to 4 Hz leading to a deep, healing, dreamless sleep
- Theta: Frequency range of 4 to 7 Hz boosting meditation, creativity, and restful sleep
- Alpha: Frequency range of 7 to 13 Hz enhancing relaxation
- Beta: Frequency range of 12 to 30 Hz promoting concentration and alertness
- Gamma: Frequency range of 30 to 50 Hz heightening perception
Retraining Brainwaves with Sound Baths
The frequencies singing bowls create during a sound bath can produce powerful binaural beats. Not all bowls, however, can create a binaural beat. Understanding which bowls produce each tone, a skilled sound bath practitioner can tailor the frequencies, creating binaural beats to entrain the mind to reach a specific mental state. I have three bowls that produce binaural beats: D#/E, G#/A, and A/A#. To achieve the best results, it’s important to let your sound bath practitioner know what you are looking to accomplish in the session. This way the tones can align with your personal goals.
Benefits of Binaural Beats
Using sound to regulate brainwaves, people can experience a variety of benefits, including:
- Relaxation
- Decreased stress and anxiety
- Increased focus and concentration
- Enhanced clarity
- Better sleep
- Improved memory
- Deeper meditative state
Everyone’s experiences are different, but scientific studies support the positive impacts binaural beats and sound baths have on the mind and body. The vibrational power of sound frequencies can help us to live a more healthy, balanced life.
Ready to experience the meditative binaural beats of a sound bath? Connect with me to learn about private sessions and upcoming events.
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