The Resonance Within: Singing Bowls & the Sound of Healing

Finding stillness through vibration, and alignment through sound.

There are moments in my practice when words fall away, when scent and silence aren’t quite enough—and all that’s needed is a single note, sustained and shimmering. That’s when I turn to my singing bowls.

I have a set of seven, each one attuned to a different chakra. They’re not just instruments to me—they're living tones, each with a voice of its own. While I cherish the full set, I find myself returning again and again to two: the Root and the Heart.

Why These Two?

The Root bowl has a deep, grounding hum that reminds me I have a place on this earth. When life feels scattered or heavy, I let it ring out until my breath slows and I remember how to be still.

The Heart bowl, on the other hand, opens something gentle. Its tone is softer, rounder—an invitation to release, to forgive, to feel. It helps dissolve emotional tension and reconnect with compassion, for self and others.

How to Make a Singing Bowl "Sing"

If you’re new to sound therapy or singing bowls, it can take a moment to find the right rhythm. Here's how I approach them:

1. Set Your Space Find a quiet area and ground yourself. You can sit on a cushion or kneel. Hold the bowl in the palm of your non-dominant hand, fingers relaxed and open beneath it. (Or place it on a soft ring or cushion.)

2. Wake the Bowl Gently strike the outer rim of the bowl with the mallet to introduce the tone. Pause. Listen.

3. Begin the Circle Holding the mallet like a pencil, press it gently against the outside rim of the bowl and begin to move it clockwise, slowly and steadily. Apply even, firm pressure—not too hard, not too light.

4. Find the Sound At first, it might feel like nothing is happening. Keep circling. Soon, the sound will begin to rise, spiraling out in waves. Don’t rush—let the note come to life on its own terms.

5. Breathe With the Bowl Once it begins to sing, breathe with it. Feel the vibration in your hands, your chest, your bones. You’re not just hearing the sound—you’re receiving it.

The Gentle Power of Sound Therapy

Sound has been used for healing across cultures and centuries. The vibrations from singing bowls can:

• Calm the nervous system

• Deepen meditation and awareness

• Realign energy centers (chakras)

• Release emotional tension

• Help ground and center the body

Even a few minutes a day with a bowl—whether you’re using one or all seven—can shift your inner state, subtly but profoundly.

A Final Note

There’s no “perfect” way to use singing bowls. Let it be a relationship—one of listening, experimenting, and intention. Whether you use them in your sessions, meditations, or simply as a way to begin or end the day, they are a beautiful reminder that healing is not always about doing. Sometimes, it’s about receiving the tone that already lives within you.

With resonance, Crysania