HEALING WITH SINGING BOWLS

I want to first explain what singing bowls are before I describe my experience with them. 

The sounds generated by Tibetan Singing Bowls are a type of energy medicine that promote healing from stress disorders, pain, depression, and most forms of dis-ease. Healing processes are initiated through entraining our brainwaves to synchronize with the perfect resonance of the bowls

Two weekends ago when we were still getting out and about I went to a singing bowl workshop.  We were practicing social distancing and many of us just needed some of the healing that the bowls offer.  The workshop was 2 hours, I took my yoga mat, blankets, a bolster, and an eye pillow.  I settled in on my back, very comfortably and the healing began.  He had 7 crystal bowls of different sizes, tones and vibrations.  Each bowl represents one of the chakras. 

Quickly, Chakras are the circular vortexes of energy that are placed in seven different points on the spinal column, and all the seven chakras are connected to the various organs and glands within the body. These chakras are responsible for disturbing the life energy, which is also known as Qi or Prana. The seven chakras are root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. These different bowls when being played send vibrations into the body.   

Along with the bowls he used vocals sounds, no words, chimes, bells and it was just one person making all the beautiful sounds. The sounds are loud and the vibrations strong, I could feel it all in and through my body. It was a 2 hour long meditation session, although I was moving between really thinking and almost sleeping I was aware of the sounds, the vibrations, and the calm that the bowls offered.  I have been finding time to meditate for 1 or 2 10 minute sessions each day and this was an extended version.  I was lying on back and don’t think my hips, knees, ankle and back could sit up that long.  In fact my hips give out at about the 20 minute mark.  Interestingly enough yoga postures were practiced for the very reason to condition the body for long hours of sitting meditation. 

I practice yoga, I also meet myself on the mat at any given time depending on how my body feels, what type of range of motion I have and where my balance is.  Yoga instructors are just normal people and we have to practice what we preach and yoga can be done by anyone if they listen and are aware of what their bodies are capable of.  Sometimes personal yoga practice is very restorative and other times high intensity power yoga, all depends on the moment.  Whatever type I’m practicing I will incorporate singing bowls music when I can.  For the classes I teach I am considering learning to play the bowls and incorporate it in the savassana portion of the practice. It is very beautiful, soothing, healing and calming.

FINDING BASELINE AGAIN

            It has been several days since my flare and I’m still trying to find myself back to baseline.  I have had another flare since my last post so today I’m at 9 days without a flare but have not found my baseline quite yet.  The fatigue is still overwhelming and even taking several days of pure rest has not brought me completely back but I’m hopefully I will find that baseline again.  The flares themselves are very quick, it is getting back to doing everything I was doing before the flare that is difficult. 

            I’m in a good routine that includes weight training 2 or 3 times per week and before my flares started I was increase weight each rep at each session.  This is a great accomplishment but it is also a challenge because as I’m increasing my weight I’m breaking down the fibers in my muscles, causing inflammation, and trying to heal. Is it possible that my immune system is kicking into gear to heal these torn fibers? I think this is a possibility.  I had my weight training sessions last week and brought my weight back down.  Both because I was concerned about flares and also because my fatigued body could use the decrease.  This morning I had my weight training session and increased my weight on a few reps and sets and kept it down for the others as I gradually start to bring my body back to baseline.  Maybe there is no correlation between the weight training and flares but since I’m causing inflammation in my body I believe there is some.                  In the past I would increase my prednisone since it is a cure all drug and instantly get back to baseline but this time since I had gone so many days without a flare and kept my prednisone down so low for so long I didn’t want to take that route.  If I find that I’m flare more often or if I have a flare again within the next 7-10 days I will probably consider a slight increase.  I felt so good for so long and just wanting, craving, to be back at the same feel strong, feel good place.  It takes time and patience, which I have both.