21/09/2025

ON SUNDAY September 21, 2025 theSunday Special X Finding stillness in the soundscape

P AUSE for a moment and lis ten, really listen. Is it the low hum of the air-conditioning? The distant clatter of cutlery? Or the faint bassline of your neighbour’s playlist bleeding through the wall? Our modern world hums with constant noise, but increasingly, people are discovering the value of listening with intention. The idea that certain sounds can do more than entertain – that they can calm the mind, steady the breath and even ease pain – is moving from the fringes of wellness culture into everyday life. One of the most striking examples is the “sound bath”; despite the name, there’s no water involved. Participants simply lie down, eyes closed, while a practitioner fills the room with the deep resonance of gongs, the bright shimmer of chimes or the rich, sustained tones of Tibetan singing bowls. The sound doesn’t just surround you, it seems to pass through you, settling in your chest, your bones and the quiet corners From gongs to playlists, sound is becoming one of wellness’s most accessible tools BY SIMON VELLA

of your mind. For some, it’s the closest thing to meditation that actually works, especially for those who struggle with sitting in silence. It may sound mystical, but a growing body of science ex plains it. A 2017 University of California study found that after a single hour of Tibetan singing bowl meditation, participants reported significant drops in tension, anxiety and even mild physical pain. Many also described feeling lighter, more peaceful and more connected to themselves. EEG scans revealed that the bowls’ tones slowed brain activity into theta and delta frequencies, the same states linked to deep medita tion, trance

and restorative sleep. In other words, the brain begins to “tune” itself to the rhythm of the sound, gently shifting the nervous system out of high-alert mode. Integrative physician and sound heal ing advocate Dr Amir Farid Isahak said this kind of shift is partly biochemical. “Soft, melodic music often triggers the release of endorphins, dopamine, sero tonin and oxytocin, the ‘happy hormones’ that reduce stress, lift mood and may even help lower blood pressure,” he explained. This means you don’t always need a formal session – humming in the car, singing in the shower or even whistling a favourite tune can have a similar, if smaller, effect. Sound, stress and the body Massage studies have shown a 28% to 31% decrease in cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, alongside a rise in serotonin after treatment. Intrigu ingly, researchers have found that part of that benefit may come from the gentle background music often playing during the session, not just the physical touch. It’s an example of how layered sensory experiences touch, sound and smell can work together to regulate the nervous system.

Soft, melodic music can trigger ‘happy hormones’ that ease stress, lift mood and even help lower blood pressure.”

Amir