The power of the Singing Bowl

Singing Bowls are a great way to get your children (and adults for that matter!) to focus on one particular activity that brings with it a lot of benefits.

A singing bowl (also referred to as a Tibetan bowl) plays at a certain frequency which in turn can help cultivate mental focus, presence, and calm.
 

Here’s how the singing bowl helps us during Kids and Seniors Yoga …. in the Classroom and beyond

• In one of the first classes we always introduce the singing bowl and incorporate this with a mindful seat (straight spine, legs crossed if they’re on them at, otherwise hands in the lap feet on the floor). Each time we play the gong, kids come back to their mindful seat. This not only saves our teacher voice, but it is also a gentle stimulus to support behaviour management in the classroom.
• In smaller groups:  while the child is relaxing, place the bowl on their stomach and ring it softly – the vibration of the bowl will be felt inside the tummy. Make sure you ask permission first!!
• Invite your kids to close their eyes and sit in a mindful seat. Ask them to listen to the sound as you actually play the bowl (striking it) and raise their hands when they no longer hear the sound. This teaches mindful listening!
• Engage: Give the kids a turn and let them play it and explore the sounds for themselves. This fosters cooperation and concentration and it’s not an easy task!
• Seniors often enjoy the singing bowl towards the end of the meditation. It allows them to gently drift out of the relaxing state and tune their attention back into the room.

A singing bowl is a useful tool to support Yoga and Mindfulness for Youth and Seniors

These activities work well with young and old as they listen intently for the bowl to stop making a sound, which helps focus their attention. As their mind becomes focused on the simple task of listening for the sound, it will become increasingly calm and relaxed.

There are also some fantastic sound healing activities out there which involve a variety of different instruments. If you’ve never been to one before: it’s highly recommendable.