Eyes closed, hands over ears while incessantly humming in a room full of strangers was a weird and wonderful experience.
No I wasn’t abducted by some peculiar cult, I was in fact at my first ever sound bath in Banchory.
Forget bubbles, this particular bath, as the name suggests, is a holistic treatment that uses sound and vibrations to induce a calmer state of mind and a relaxed body.
With anxiety being my middle name and with celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Gwyneth Paltrow extolling the restorative virtues of sound baths, I didn’t think twice when I was invited to a Sunday morning sound bath session at the Banchory Guide Lodge.
What is a sound bath
A sound bath is a meditative and therapeutic experience where you literally ‘bathe’ in the sounds and vibrations produced by different instruments.
Through these sounds and vibrations, your mind enters a meditative and relaxed state which brings about healing at a mental, emotional and physical level.
All you are asked to do is lie down on a mat with cushions and blankets to keep you warm and let the sound wash over you.
It was 17 years ago when Milena Skaloudova first came across the power of sound baths, an experience so powerful that it led her to starting her own sound bath sessions in Banchory and Inverurie.
“It de-stresses you, allows you to go into such a deep state of relaxation and it helps you to get rid of all the worries in the world,” says Milena.
The sound bath experience
After a hectic week in work, I felt a bit worn out as I made the 30-minute drive from Aberdeen to Banchory on Sunday morning.
Armed with a matt, a pillow and a fleecy blanket – as advised by Milena – I made my way inside the Guide Lodge slightly nervous and unsure about what was ahead.
Greeted with a smile and a warm hug from Milena, I soon relaxed as I took in the unusual but strangely comforting scene.
At the centre of the cosy alpine cabin type room lay a bright blue cloth full of metal and crystal bowls, a drum, chimes, candles, flowers and some fruit and vegetables – intriguing to say the least.
With the strong smell of incense in the air and my inner voice telling my to just go with the flow, I rolled out my matt, joining the 14 or so other women and one man – Milena’s partner Rob – who had formed a circle round the room.
Perhaps sensing that it was my first sound bath experience, the friendly lady next to me, who I later discovered was called May, told me I was in for quite the experience.
Good vibes only
After welcoming everyone to the class, Milena asked us to close our eyes and take some deep breaths.
Feeling my jaw unclench, shoulders drop and the tight band of tension across my forehead ease, I instantly relaxed as I focused on my breathing.
Bringing our attention back into the room, Milena then guided us through an exercise, encouraging us to make sounds as we exhaled.
At first I felt a bit uncomfortable as I heard myself and others fill the room with weird sounds and sighs, wondering what someone outside the room would make of the strange cacophony.
Humming your worries away
But once I shed my initial inhibitions, I started to feel like I was using my voice as a tool to release any pent-up tension.
Proven to have a calming effect on the mind and body, humming was our next self-soothing exercise.
Standing up, we all closed our eyes and repeatedly said our names out loud before settling into a hum together.
As a collective ‘hmmmmmm’ reverberated around the room, I cupped my hand over my ears, as recommended by Milena, and listened to the dull rumbling sound of my voice.
Tibetan singing bowls
Although I didn’t find this part particularly relaxing, focusing on my dulcet tones blocked out any inane thoughts that popped into my head.
After a short comfort break, it was time for what my neighbour May described as the best part.
Lying on our matts, cocooned in our blankets, we closed our eyes as Milena started to play special instruments including Tibetan singing bowls and crystal bowls.
Deep, vibrating, soul stirring sounds soon ebbed and flowed throughout the room as Milena used a mallet to strike the water filled bowls.
Good for the mind, body and soul
The sound waves created are supposed to rebalance the racing mind and help relax and rejuvenate the body, pulling you into a deep meditative state of being.
Lying there letting the sounds of the bowls, chimes and drums wash over me, I started to let go.
Yes, I did vaguely hear some light snoring but I didn’t allow that to distract me and instead focused on the sounds.
At one point, an instrument was being played close to my body, which, oddly, I felt in my chest, hands and feet.
It was an odd but beautiful sensation – you could literally feel the vibrations resonating through your entire body.
As Milena gently guided us to the end of the session, I reluctantly opened my eyes feeling calmer, refreshed and deeply relaxed.
Training with the world’s best
One lady in the class used the word ‘ethereal’ to describe the sound bath and I would be inclined to agree as it was rather otherworldly, like nothing I had ever experienced before.
Chatting after the class, Milena, 47, who is originally from the Czech Republic before she settled in Strachan with her partner Rob Strachan, says her journey into sound baths started back in 2006 and led her to train alongside some of the world leaders in the field.
“In 2006 I met Kathleen Murray who runs the Academy of Crystal and Natural Healing in Rhynie,” says Milena.
“I loved her work and she introduced me to sound baths so I studied with her for a couple of years.
“I then came across Jonathan Goldman, a very famous sound bath teacher from America.
“He does intensive sound healing courses in Colorado so I went there and was totally inspired.”
It was six years ago, after experiencing the benefits of sound baths, that Milena decided to start teaching the practice, hosting classes in Banchory and Inverurie.
“The same people keep coming back to the classes which must be good,” laughs Milena.
“The feedback has been really positive as people tell me that they sleep really well afterwards.
“One lady with extreme blood pressure problems told me that after the sound bath her blood pressure went right down.”
“It can also help with things like pain as it unblocks pockets of stuck energy.”
With her classes proving so popular, Milena has plans to expand.
“It would be lovely to bring sound baths to schools, hospitals or hospices,” says Milena.
“We’ll see what happens.”
Wellbeing diary with Milena Skaloudova
What are three benefits of sound baths?
Sound baths promote deep relaxation, healing from stress disorders and improves sleep.
As well as sound baths, what else helps you to relax and de-stress?
Yoga, chanting/humming, a walk in nature and gardening.
Do you incorporate wellbeing into your diet?
Yes I’m growing my own organic vegetables. Our modern diet can be very acidic so I make sure I incorporate foods and supplements which support my digestive system.
Can you recommend any good books or podcasts on wellbeing?
The books I would recommend are The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
What advice would you give to anyone who is feeling stressed?
Take time off from stressful situations and thoughts, slow down and breathe. Try walking in nature or sitting by the river or use a simple humming technique to calm your nervous system.
For more information about the sound baths, check out Milena’s Vibrational Medicine Facebook page.
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