A viral video of CNN reporter Larry Madowo on Sunday, January 8, elicited reactions from his audience after he was filmed undergoing a ‘sound healing’ treatment in Nepal.
In the video, the former KTN, NTV, and BBC journalist is seen seated with a metallic bowl placed on his head.
A traditional sound healer, also known as a sounder, is then seen hitting another bowl next to Madowo's ear several times which produces a rhythmic sound, while Madowo sat calmly.
The sounder hits the bowl several times at intervals after which he removes the bowl placed on Madowo's head much to the delight of the journalist.
“Wow, that was fascinating, you stated it releases all that? " Madowo queried.
"Yes, depression, migraines, stress, anxiety, concentration, insomnia,” the sounder revealed.
According to Madowo, the instrument placed on his head were Tibetan singing bowls and not regular cooking pots.
“Their vibrations invoke reflection, meditation, and prayer and can also be used to treat various illnesses,
They’ve been used by Buddhist monks since ancient times,” the CNN Correspondent clarified to netizens who sought to understand the techniques behind the therapy.
"You will keep hearing in your studio Atlanta Georgia, that is when you will realise that sufuria doctors are dangerous," Mohammed Wehliye, an advisor to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, cautioned him.
The video developed interest from a netizen by the name of Just Tom who inquired about the practice,
"What is it healing? Just asking," he paused.
Sound healing is a form of healing that uses different vibrations to heal the body, mind, and spirit.
It works on two principles: First, different emotions vibrate at different levels and secondly blocked, or unexpressed emotions, are the main source of dis-ease.
Objects aren’t the only things that vibrate. It has been proven that our thoughts and feelings produce energy, which triggers vibrations.
Everything vibrates at a different level, including feelings.
How it works
Sound therapy treatment is both a passive and participatory experience. The passive aspect is that you become more relaxed by laying down and slowing your breathing.
By doing this, you prepare yourself to become the receiver of sound. It's in this place of stillness that you participate by becoming more open and aware of each sound that comes in.
Sound helps create the pathway to this place of stillness the same as a mantra helps you to arrive at the still point of meditation.
Healers use instruments, such as Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, glasses, gongs and even tuning forks, that vibrate at specific frequencies when struck.
These vibrations correspond to specific emotions.
Many people don’t want to feel sadness or grief, so they close their heart chakras rather than allow themselves to feel these uncomfortable emotions.
Some of the most common benefits of sound therapy are:
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Triggers the relaxation response
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Reduces blood pressure
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Alleviates symptoms of chronic stress
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Releases and harmonizes the mind, body, and spirit
It's important to consider what kinds of sound we take in from our living environments.
Loud sounds can elevate our stress levels, create imbalances in our nervous system, lower our immunity and in extreme cases, cause hearing loss.
Sound has a way of helping us get to the source of this inner peace we all desire.
