‘Act of beauty’: Why sound bathing is becoming an appealing relaxation technique to some Edmontonians 

A relaxation technique is helping some Edmontonians stay grounded called Sound Bathing. CTV News Edmonton's Connor Hogg reports.

Some Edmontonians are turning to a different type of bath as a relaxation technique.

Sound bathing immerses people in carefully curated sounds and vibrations, rather than water, to help people centre themselves in a world constantly moving.

Marcus Fung, a former jazz pianist, runs Edmonton-based business Earth Harmony Sound and Wellness, which facilitates what he calls sound healing experiences around the city. He incorporates singing bowls, rainsticks, ocean drums and various types of gongs into his practice.

“Every sound bath facilitator has their own approach, but generally we use a variety of instruments where their specialty is their deep resonance … that kind of helps our brain waves to begin to shift into that deeper and more relaxed state,” he said in an interview Saturday.

He refers to himself as a soundscape “DJ” of sorts, taking his participants’ moods and factoring them into which notes he plays.

For sound bathers, the experience speaks for itself as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

“For me, this is about coming home to my body, about relaxing, about reattuning,,” said Desiree Van Domselaar, who was at one of Fung’s sessions on Saturday. “From there I can do my life in a way that feels productive and good and not like I’m just frenetically running from one thing to the next.”

She said the atmosphere – a combination of low lighting, candles, blankets, pillows and of course, the sounds – helps her to disconnect from her busy life balancing a business and family.

“We live in a society of people that are perpetually living on fumes, and I think we can do that short-term, but long-term it’s just not feasible,” she added.

Clayton Jones, also a sound bather, says the experience allows him to quiet an anxious mind.

“This allows me to just forget about everything, relax completely, and my whole body just gets to enjoy the frequency and vibration that makes me feel better,” he said on Saturday. “I experience a lot of clarity and relaxation.”

Vanessa Goodchild, a registered psychologist and founder of Solace Psychology and Wellness, said she sees an increased number of people looking for counselling and self-care experiences during the winter months.

“The excitement of the holidays has ended, routines return, and many people begin to feel overwhelmed or isolated,” she told CTV News Edmonton.

“At the same time, January is also a time of motivation. Many people are reflecting on their mental health and wanting to start the year in a healthier way.”

Although studies are still emerging on its medical benefits, Fung says sound bathing is yet another tool he finds useful for regulating nervous systems, drawing from “Earth wisdom traditions” of “ancient ancestors.”

“I think this is an act of beauty … people come in, hear the harmonies, and you feel a sense of reverence and a sense of beauty,” he said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg