What is a sound bath?

There are certain seasons in life that test you – when everything feels heavier than usual, and even simple things take more effort. During one of those times, I found something that truly helped me feel calm and grounded. I found sound baths. For a year and a half, I went almost every week to Vicky’s class at The Club & Spa in Congresbury. It became one of my non-negotiables and a ritual I looked forward to. I kept up my healthy eating, yoga, and mindfulness practices, but nothing steadied me quite like those sound baths did.

Each session brought me back into my body, releasing deep tension and quieting my busy mind like nothing else. I always left feeling lighter, clearer, and more deeply connected to myself – just to name a few of the many benefits.

I knew one day I’d want to train in Sound Therapy, but the exact moment of knowing came at Houghton Festival, where I watched a one-to-one sound healing session in The Orchard. It was encapsulating and in that instant, I knew this was what I was meant to do next. And this year, it happened!

What is a sound bath? I hear you say…

A sound bath is a deeply meditative experience where you’re fully immersed in soothing, therapeutic sound waves and vibrations, using instruments like Himalayan singing bowls, crystal bowls, a sea drum, Koshi chimes, and seed shakers. I create carefully curated frequencies that gently guide you inward, helping your mind quiet and your body soften. These sessions can be experienced in a group setting or one-on-one.

Why Sound Affects the Body So Deeply

Sound travels through water more than four times faster than it does through air (Air: 760 mph; Water: 3,350 mph). Because the human body is composed of approximately 70% water, it is highly receptive to sound and vibration. As a result, sound can profoundly influence the body’s physical and energetic systems at a deep and restorative level.

When we’re bathed in specific frequencies, our brainwaves shift from a busy beta state (our normal waking state) into alpha, theta, and delta states – the same states we experience during deep meditation and restorative sleep.

In this deeply relaxed space, your body’s natural healing abilities are activated, supporting overall health and balance. In fact, just 30 minutes of a sound bath can be equivalent to three hours of deep rest – an effortless reset for the nervous system.

It’s More Than Relaxation

Studies have shown that sound-based healing can:

• Encourages deep physical and mental relaxation
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Ease tension and chronic pain
• Improve sleep quality
• Support emotional and mental wellbeing
• Gently activated the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”)
• Improve focus and mental clarity
• Enhance self-awareness and inner reflection

Sound therapy is also increasingly being used in medical and therapeutic settings for its calming, restorative, and natural healing effects. Ongoing research continues to explore how sound therapy can support pain management, influence tumour and cancer cell behaviour, and improve neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Having worked within the NHS as a Health and Wellbeing Coach for several years, supporting hundreds of patients, I have a growing interest in how sound can help prevent and manage chronic diseases. In particular, through my own personal journey, as well as my experience supporting loved ones and patients, I have become deeply drawn to the potential of sound healing in both the prevention of cancer and the support of cancer patients throughout their recovery and overall wellbeing. This article speaks to the profound benefits of sound healing for those living with breast cancer.

It is a promising and growing field!

What to Expect

Depending on the sound bath you attend, you’ll simply lie down or sit comfortably, close your eyes, and allow the sound to wash over you. The experience is unique for everyone – some people drift into a deep, dreamlike state, while others feel gentle emotional release or a profound sense of stillness.

Each session lasts around 45–60 minutes, leaving you feeling light, calm, and deeply rejuvenated.

Come join us

I offer sound baths in and around Clevedon. They will all be gentle, nourishing spaces to pause, unwind, and reconnect with yourself through sound.

Where you’ll find me:

Sauna & Sound sessions at Suvi Sauna in Clevedon

Sound Bath with Laura at Nimble Studio in Clevedon

I maybe joining Emma from Permission to Rest again in the future, adding sound baths to her beautiful monthly Restorative & Nidra Yoga classes at the beautiful Walton-in-Gordano village hall, surrounded by peaceful countryside.

These sessions will be open to everyone and no experience is needed. This is your time to pause, unwind, and leave the busyness of everyday life behind.

Settle in, make yourself comfortable, and let the soothing sound waves carry you into relaxation.

To your health and happiness,

Laura x