The power of sound
We discover the healing properties of crystal singing bowls with an online course from Rainbow Sounds.
Despite popular belief, meditation does not require absolute silence and stillness. My first sound bath, eight years ago, proved this to me. Pregnant and unable to practise my usual yoga or meditation, I went along to support my brother, who had just started meditating. I was desperate to “drop in” to that quiet place within. Despite my nausea, I summoned up what little energy I had to lie on the floor. Surrounded by waves of sound, something deep inside me shifted. The vibrations calmed my mind, released my anxiety and
eased my discomfort. I was hooked.
Last year, during a retreat, the crystal singing bowls called to me in a new way. The soothing tones whispered: “Learn how to play”. Hesitant at first, I followed the nudge of my intuition and recently completed the Rainbow Sounds Level 1 and 2 Crystal Singing Bowls online course.
Resonance on every level
The sound of the bowls can reach places inside you that words and silence often cannot. Resonance occurs when one object vibrates in harmony with another due to matching frequencies. It’s why certain sounds feel tranquil, and others invigorating. They “match” something within you. The vibrations can amplify existing energy or clear what feels stuck. For personal practice, sound healing is a powerful tool for managing stress and supporting manifestation. For wellness professionals, incorporating singing bowls into your work can help clients release emotions and reconnect with themselves.
Meditation reimagined
Bianca Sengos is the course instructor and founder of Rainbow Sounds. Her warmth, clarity and love for the practice is evident throughout the course. “Meditation can be fun not boring,” she frequently says. Her passion for the bowls is infectious and eases your nerves about trying something new. While the course is full of information and techniques, Bianca encourages you to discover your own rhythm. It’s not about doing it “right”. It’s about feeling the vibrations and finding your flow with the bowls. When was the last time you were encouraged to meditate “your way”? How liberating!
Getting started
Level 1 begins with the basics: understanding the properties of quartz bowls and practising techniques to create pure, resonant tones. By the end, you’re equipped to use breath, crystal bowls and sounding to create a personal practice. Bianca introduces concepts such as brain waves, biochemistry and epigenetics, sharing how sound influences the body’s physiology and induces parasympathetic nervous system benefits. Rather than being dry or overly technical, the ideas are easy to grasp and inspire you to explore the bowls further.
In musical theory, you learn how each bowl is tuned to a specifi c note and, when played together, create distinct eff ects. For instance, bowls tuned to C, E and G bring yang qualities, such as strength and empowerment. The notes D, F and A carry more yin energy, inviting compassion and trust. You can choose to incorporate the Indian chakra system for added focus areas, if you like. Sounding — using simple vocal tones like “oh” or “ah” — can further help to release trapped emotions and clear blockages, guiding the body towards balance and health.
Crafting a sound bath
Level 2 teaches you how to create a sound bath from start to finish. Bianca explains essential concepts such as harmony, dissonance and binaural beats. You learn to structure a sound bath, incorporating a body scan. You can follow along with a detailed printable guide that prepares you to lead your own sound bath. The very night I finished the course, I was inspired to lead a five-minute sound bath for my family. Bianca makes sound healing approachable, showing that it doesn’t take complete mastery to create something meaningful. All that’s left to do is practise.
Slowing down
Playing the bowls slowly is emphasised throughout the course. “In today’s world, we go so fast, and we want to be in control of everything.” When Bianca spoke those words, I felt she was talking right to me. As a busy mum, editor and business owner, I’m often looking for ways to be more efficient and save time. Playing the bowls offers the complete opposite and a much-needed antidote — a chance to pause, linger and let sound guide the way.
