It was grief that brought Desree Bennett to sound baths.
“My dad passed away about three years ago, and I just found myself kind of broken, and I just didn’t have anywhere to process my grief,” she says. “I just thought, ‘Gosh, I wish there was a class where I could just go and lay on the floor, and it would be okay to cry, and it would be okay to just breathe.’ So, I thought, ‘You know what? I guess I’ll have to create something where that’s possible.’”
And she did.
That road to healing led her to certifications in meditation, breath work, and sound bowls, eventually running a sound bath class on Sunday mornings in a rented-out dance studio in Springville. Now, she’s one of two practitioners who run sound bath sessions at the Clyde Recreation Center.
In the quest for holistic well-being, sound baths have emerged as a popular practice that marries ancient traditions with modern mindfulness. These therapeutic experiences, often described as “meditative concerts,” immerse participants in soothing soundscapes created by instruments such as crystal singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and tuning forks.
A sound bath is a meditative experience where individuals lie comfortably while being enveloped in a symphony of resonant sounds. The facilitator plays a variety of instruments, each producing unique frequencies that interact with the listener’s body and mind. Unlike traditional meditation, where silence is often a key component, sound baths use auditory stimuli to guide participants into a state of deep relaxation.
“Sound is the device that you focus on,” Bennett said. “When you do breathing meditations, you focus on the breath, or sometimes you can hold a mantra or a phrase or a word in your mind, but in a sound bath, sound is the device.”
Sound baths are said to have many benefits, and chief among them is stress reduction. The gentle, harmonic tones produced during a sound bath help calm the nervous system. By reducing cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone, sound baths can alleviate tension and create a sense of inner peace.
Sound baths can also enhance relaxation. The vibrational frequencies from instruments such as gongs and singing bowls promote deep relaxation. Many participants report feeling a sense of weightlessness and serenity, making it easier to let go of mental clutter.
“You’re able to kind of step away from the mind chatter that you are frequently running,” she explained. “It’s just a way for you to step outside the programs that you’re running day-to-day and just observe.
By calming the mind and relaxing the body, sound baths can enhance sleep quality. The soothing sounds help to quiet overactive thoughts, promoting a deeper and more restorative slumber. The immersive nature of a sound bath anchors participants in the present moment, which can also increase mindfulness and focus—something that’s too often missing in the media-saturated world around us. This heightened state of awareness can improve focus, clarity, and overall mental well-being.
In practices like Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, sound is thought to harmonize the body’s energy centers, or chakras. This balancing act can leave participants feeling more aligned and energized.
“There are different frequencies that are agreed upon by humans that connect to the certain frequencies of the chakras,” says Bennett. “So, I use those. I also have a small little ocean drum that I’ve just started to incorporate. It helps people relax.”
Preparing for a sound bath is important. To fully enjoy the benefits of a sound bath, it helps to come prepared by wearing comfortable clothing, bringing a yoga mat, blanket, or cushion for added comfort. Participants should also and avoid heavy meals beforehand to feel light and receptive, as well as to keep an open mind throughout the experience.
“Really, there’s nothing needed or expected. I think if you come in with expectations, you probably will be disappointed or confused,” says Bennett. “You can hold an intention in your mind if you want to, but that’s not the point of any type of meditation class or sound bath. It’s actually just to observe yourself and just to be open to what comes up and just to accept whatever is.”
The rise in popularity of sound baths reflects a broader shift toward holistic and integrative wellness practices. As people seek alternatives to conventional stress-relief methods, sound therapy offers an accessible and deeply impactful experience. Whether you attend a group session or explore at-home sound bath tools, the transformative power of sound is within reach.
Sound baths are more than just a trend, though. They’re a profound way to connect with oneself and find harmony in a chaotic world. By merging ancient wisdom with contemporary needs, they offer a path to relaxation, healing, and self-discovery.
If you’ve never experienced a sound bath, consider giving it a try—your mind, body, and spirit may thank you. Sound Baths are Wednesday and Thursday nights from 9 pm to 10 pm.
