Last Friday was the end of my last full week of classes for the academic year. I still have one more class, one more faculty meeting, two exams and a pile of grading to do. But the end is in sight, and summer is just around the corner.
In the meantime, spring has busted out all over Eastern Massachusetts. Is it me, or do the flowering trees and bright blossoms look so much more blooming wonderful than usual? Maybe it’s because I/we can use a mood lift from nature. In either case, it’s gorgeous out there.
Speaking of gorgeous: Friday was also Crystal Singing Bowl Restorative Yoga day at Artemis, my local yoga studio. Yoga teacher and Singing Bowl musician Sheryl brought her bowls and led us through a series of restorative poses, playing them during the poses. Here’s a sound bath excerpt.
I love love love interesting sounds in yoga classes. And there are so many ways that teachers and musicians collaborate to provide a multi-sensory experience. I’ve had yoga classes with cello, acoustic bass, bass guitar, drum, bells, bowls (metal and crystal), and gong(s). Yes, I highly recommend going to a gong yoga session sometime. It feels like a freight train is rumbling close by, close enough to feel the vibrations.
Describing the experience of Friday’s sound bath would be difficult, mainly because I became so mellow and relaxed by the end that I was loathe to get up off my mat and leave the studio. But apparently singing bowls are also good for increasing energy; so says teacher Sheryl. Here’s her instagram post for a midday energy boost.
Just listening to her play is feeling great. Even my laptop is buzzing a little from the vibration of the bowls.
Dear readers, have any of you taken sound baths? How did you feel? I’d love to hear from you.
