Himalayan Singing Bowls are instruments which are part of the family of standing bells. Nowadays they are crafted mainly in the region between Nepal, northern India and China.
The first examples were produced in China at least 3000 years ago and their use spread with Buddhism around the Himalayan region.
Himalayan Singing Bowls are used widely in guided meditation and religious ceremonies, especially in the West, and their association with Tibetan Buddhism seems to be a new-age assumption.
They produce an initial note that then develops into a cluster of harmonics, creating a very calming and expanding sound signature.
They are made out of bronze (the 7 metals composition is just an urban legend!) and they can be machine-made or man-made. The hand-made bowls are the richest in terms of harmonics and sustain, so they are usually preferred when needed for therapeutic purposes.
The process to create one by hand is a fascinating one and it requires several people and very good skills:
Himalayan Singing Bowls can be used in sound Baths and to massage a person, through a mix of on- and off-body techniques.
This type of sound massage is a gentle and very effective one, to the point that it is known among practitioners as a “sonic cuddle”.
If you want to know more about treatments with Himalayan Singing Bowls, please visit our page on Himalayan Singing Bowls Massage.