Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871151/

J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Jul; 22(3): 401–406.
Published online 2016 Sep 30. doi: 10.1177/2156587216668109
PMCID: PMC5871151
PMID: 27694559

Authors:
Tamara L. Goldsby, PhD, Michael E. Goldsby, PhD, Mary McWalters, BA, and Paul J. Mills, PhD

Abstract

Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease. This study examined the effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual well-being. Sixty-two women and men (mean age 49.7 years) participated. As compared with pre-meditation, following the sound meditation participants reported significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood (all Ps <.001). Additionally, participants who were previously naïve to this type of meditation experienced a significantly greater reduction in tension compared with participants experienced in this meditation (P < .001). Feeling of spiritual well-being significantly increased across all participants (P < .001). Tibetan singing bowl meditation may be a feasible low-cost low technology intervention for reducing feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in individuals who have not previously practiced this form of meditation.

Keywords: Tibetan bowls, anxiety, depression, spiritual well-being

Full article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871151/