The diverse applications of Singing Bowls have long been no secret. In care, sound massage has been used for many years to accompany older people on their journey. This form of non-verbal communication picks people up in their innermost being, even when they have already withdrawn into themselves. However, sound massage is not only a good way to get in touch with seniors in nursing homes - the Singing Bowl can also be used in the family to find peace and relaxation together. We will show you how you can use the sounds in everyday life to create positive effects.
What effect do the sounds of Singing Bowls have on older people and the sick?
In everyday life, sound massage has been shown to have a variety of positive effects. The sounds are primarily used to
- To facilitate relaxation
- to maintain and promote the perception of the senses
- to support your own body awareness
- to activate the body's self-healing powers
- To reduce pain and thus decrease the need for medication
- To promote communication and create non-verbal communication opportunities
- To reduce fears and provide support and security
- to enable a social connection between patients, relatives, and nursing staff
- to bring some variety into everyday life.
The advantages are therefore obvious. Of course, not only seniors and the sick benefit from the positive effects of sound methods, but also family members, friends and nursing staff. It is important not only to regard the sounds of the Singing Bowls as a possible therapeutic tool, but also as a form of communication in their own right. Anyone who can no longer or does not want to express themselves still has the opportunity to express their own feelings with the Singing Bowl.
Singing Bowls in nursing homes - have long been an important part of care
The sounds of the Singing Bowls appeal to a variety of senses. Particularly relevant, of course, is the sense of hearing, which is stimulated by the gentle sounds of the Singing Bowl and experiences an intensive sensation – but also the sound waves that penetrate the body and provide a feeling of calm and security are relevant in the Sound Massage. Thus, the Peter Hess® Sound Massage is already widely used in nursing homes to support their residents in everyday life and to facilitate everyday care. The focus here is clearly on prevention: maintaining and promoting the senses. The sound exercises are often combined with movement sequences to enable holistic training, for example, as part of balance and coordination exercises.
But even when patients are already withdrawn – for example, due to progressive dementia – the sound massage has shown fantastic results in everyday life. Patients who have not spoken to relatives or caregivers for many years have been encouraged by the sounds to reconnect with their outside world. Here, the sounds of the Singing Bowls are used as a unique form of communication. The results in everyday life were so convincing that many employees from the care sector have already written specialist articles on the application of sound massage in everyday care and a separate study on this topic is to be carried out in the coming years.
Singing Bowls in your everyday life
The calming effect of the Singing Bowl can be perfectly integrated into everyday life – whether you want to support your relatives in the nursing home or ensure a pleasant sense of well-being at home. An important factor here is, of course, the time spent together. If you choose to use the sound elements with your relatives, the moment belongs entirely to you. Together, you can draw strength from the special moment, the soothing sounds, and the harmonious interaction.
The aspect of safety and security is also particularly important. It is not uncommon for elderly people to feel vulnerable and helpless. The more severe the existing illnesses, the stronger this feeling usually is. The calmness of the chime provides some security and creates a moment of comfort in which one can completely immerse oneself and relax. An important point in the sound massage is the principle that one can be as one is – even if only for a moment. The simplicity of the individual sounds enables inner access to one's own worries without being overwhelming. Here, the focus is on hearing and feeling the sounds, not on everyday thoughts. The sounds help to let go, even when facing a difficult time – regardless of whether it is aging itself, a serious illness, or possibly even impending death.
Beautiful moments with sound
The time spent together with sounds and harmonious vibrations of the Singing Bowl is primarily intended to enable a beautiful moment. The different forms of perception that are addressed during the chime, the special experience of one's own body, and the well-being resulting from the chime – all this makes up the beautiful moments that the sound methods enable. Where barriers otherwise stand between people, the Singing Bowl creates a bridge of communication. This can happen in private everyday life as well as in professional nursing life. Sound methods are limitless – because they enable access to a level that cannot otherwise be reached.
How to support others with sound
Your own parents or grandparents are getting older – and it is not uncommon for worries, fears, and health problems to increase with age. Often the uncertainty of age is associated with a feeling of discomfort and restlessness. Fears increase and the otherwise positive thoughts change. Relatives seem helpless in the face of the situation, but the sounds can also support and unite here. The calming effect of the Singing Bowl is a valuable aid in aging, as it releases essential fears and creates a shared moment of peace and security.
The body awareness is strengthened by directly addressing the different senses, which in turn can have an invigorating and motivating effect on your relatives. Above all, however, you enter into a shared moment with your loved ones that is dedicated only to you - this alone radiates a feeling of security for your relatives that can make everyday life easier. It is never easy to watch your own parents or grandparents slowly grow older. Also, knowing that you will be affected yourself sooner or later can make everyday life more difficult. With sounds, there is a way to forget your worries for a moment and to use the positive effects that arise from the gentle waves of sound.
Sounds in palliative care - peace on a difficult path
In palliative care, there is a great burden on the whole family. The relatives suffer from the impending loss, the dying person himself faces the uncertainty of death. All the uncertainties influence the interaction - and finding some peace here, making a beautiful last time, is more valuable than ever before. Sounds can achieve exactly this: time spent together in a moment of absolute peace and serenity, carried only by the gentle sound waves that fill the room. Being able to forget the worries of everyday life for a moment is valuable for those affected themselves, but also for the relatives - and above all it creates a connection that all those involved can experience together.
Using the positive effects of the Singing Bowl in old age
The older you get, the more valuable the time you spend becomes. What seems natural in your youth can be a real gift in old age. Well-being, peace, quality time together – all these aspects are brought into focus during the sound massage. Whether you want to support your family members during a difficult time in the hospital, are looking for a non-verbal way to connect with relatives with dementia, or are creating a memory with shared time – the sound methods can be used in many areas of aging. People and sound are united in the spotlight to make the best of every situation.