This week, we wanted to share another way to relax and unwind with you, away from puzzling, so are bringing you an interview with Tamara Klien. Tamara specialises in sound meditation, running regular sound baths via her Instagram page and for wellness brands. Her page has quickly become our go-to account when we’re looking for some headspace and some help to wind down. We’re so grateful she took some time out to explain a little more about the benefits of sound meditation with us.
I first came across Tamara last year, when reading an inspiring article on women who have been brave enough to swap careers mid-pandemic in Harper’s Bazaar.
Tamara stood out to me as she had a successful career in PR but was keen to move away from the stress and information overload that often comes with that job. Working in that industry myself, I have found the fast pace and relentless pressure to constantly deliver results for clients has taken its toll on my mental health in the past. Lockdown has also definitely made me pause and reflect on whether I want to continue in that career and so reading about these women who have made that leap into the unknown and into a new career was very inspiring.
Secondly, as a way to help with insomnia and racing thoughts, I have become increasingly interested in the power of meditation (I’m addicted to the Calm app - the only app I pay for and it’s money well spent!) and from that the use of sound in the process. We haven’t been able to go to any classes in person for such a long time but Tamara’s online sessions are a great introduction to experiencing a sound bath from the comfort of home.
Sound baths were named as one of 2020's Conde Nast Traveller's biggest wellness trends so if you aren’t sure what one is yet, you definitely will soon. Here, Tamara talks us through the basics, her bold career move and the exciting projects she has coming up..
For those who are unsure what a sound bath is (i.e. my sister who thought you had to actually be IN a bath) how do you describe the experience?
Sound Baths or Sound Meditation is a practice in which participants attending usually lie down and experience sounds from different ancient instruments such as the Gong or Tibetan Singing Bowls. This can also include the use of voice, for example overtoning or chanting. You are so to speak being ‘bathed’ in sound wave frequencies, which have the profound capability to transcend you into deep meditative states healing to both the body and mind.
Benefits associated with Sound Meditation range from stress and anxiety relief to improvement in sleeping patterns. It can also help us with problem solving and sparks creativity.
One of the many reasons why it is so good for us is that it activates the parasympathetic nervous system also known as rest-and-digest. It’s the antidote to the fight or flight response. This biological system that originated back in early human history when physical threats were abundant, still very much is an occurrence in the 21st century, when really it shouldn’t. Triggers which used to be for example a hungry tiger lurking around the corner have been swapped by stress and anxiety.
A wealth of research has shown how meditation changes our brain and biology in positive ways, improving mental and physical health.
However, due to a lack of free time (although there is an argument to say that you do get the time back…), meditation is not accessible to all. However, the benefits achieved and linked to meditation can be made available via sound and that’s because a lot of meditation techniques such as transcendental, insight, mantra and chakra meditation use sound too.
Therefore, Sound Baths, which require participants to simply let the experience wash over them is a form of relaxation and stress relief that doesn’t require a great deal of self-discipline but, still delivers the same wellness and health benefits as meditation.
Sound baths are an ancient healing practice, dating back thousands of years. What are the physical and mental benefits you could expect from taking up this practice?
Sound Meditation dates back to ancient times and is among one of the oldest forms of healing practices used in many different parts of the world. From Australia’s aboriginal tribes to ancient Chinese and Tibetan cultures.
I believe that it may be the solution to many of the stress-related issues of modern life. There are a number of different benefits associated with Sound Meditation, in particular better sleep patterns, increased health and creativity, and a reduction of stress (including anxiety, depression and addiction).
Research specifically looking at Sound Healing is still in its infancy however there’s been many reports on people who experienced a corporeal shift following the attendance to one or more sound baths.
One study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Library of Medicine (NLM) looked at people with fibromyalgia (a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body). It discovered that: “ten treatments (twice per week for five weeks) of low-frequency sound stimulation decreased pain, allowing nearly three-quarters of participants to reduce pain medication”.
Do you feel sound baths are more relevant and helpful than ever due to the world we live in now when it is so difficult to switch off from screens, notifications and constant information overload?
Without a doubt! Our brains are constantly on complete information overload. You have to consider only a generation ago there was a time pre-internet, let alone social media. We didn’t have to process nearly as much information as we do now. I used to work in a busy environment and would sometimes process up to 300 emails in one day, plus social media (for work that is) and run around hectically catching public transport on busy roads. Then we get home to ‘unwind’ from it all by putting on another form of busy information flow via TV or Netflix (and probably mindlessly browsing on another device at the same time)…
No wonder our minds are racing the moment we come to calmness i.e. via mindfulness meditation. This is where I believe Sound Baths can be hugely helpful in particular to those new to meditation. It serves as an anchor and makes the whole experience flow much more effortlessly.
You’ve had an interesting year in making a big and brave career change from fashion PR to full time sound meditation practitioner. Had you been thinking about if for a long time and what made you finally decide it was time to switch things up?
I’ve been meditating regularly for nearly a decade and deep down probably knew I would someday want to move into a more holistic world. I honestly didn’t think that it would happen so quickly. Until, well, the pandemic happened.
Covid has given me perspective. The way I see it, I was lucky to have had the opportunity to fully dedicate myself to Sound Meditation when the world came to a sudden still stand. It’s been the best thing that could have possibly come out of such a challenging and difficult time and I hope to be able to give back by helping people through these difficult and unprecedented times.
What have you loved about your new choice of career and what have been the challenges?
It gives me purpose. Even if it’s just one person that I was able to help, that’s so powerful and important to me. Anything ranging from grief, sleeping issues to stress or anxiety related health issues. Sound is powerful stuff and feedback has been amazing! For example, I have had someone attend their first ever Sound Bath recently (on Zoom) and they experienced the best sleep they have had in over 6 months!
Then there’s the community aspect of it, something that I believe right now is more important than ever. Throughout the different lockdowns we’ve been through, there’s a true sense of togetherness. That’s priceless to me.
Main challenge has been (and sometimes still is) the fear of failure. That little voice inside your head going through all the worst-case scenarios. It’s not an easy one to ignore, but so worth it.
I have been enjoying your very calming IG live sound baths on weeknights this month as part of your DEEP SLEEP series. Have you found Instagram a positive platform to be able to connect with people during this surreal and challenging time?
Firstly, thank you so much for tuning in. Means a lot.
Instagram has been great I must say. It’s allowed me to connect with such an amazing amount of talented and interesting people from all over the world. I honestly don’t think pre-Covid I would have been this open to connecting at such a deep level with others via Social Media.
Most importantly though Sound Meditation is still fairly undiscovered if you compared it to, for example, Yoga. The ancient practice of Yoga which dates back sometime between 5,000 and 10,000 years only came to the Western world in 1893, when a Hindu monk named Swami Vivekananda addressed a large gathering in Chicago.
Instagram is an amazing platform that enables people to engage with this technique commitment free. My goal is to get as many people as possible to learn about Sound Meditation.
You have a wonderful sound meditation album out now on Spotify. Was that always an ambition to create an album and do you plan to record more in the future?
It was a dream that came true so much quicker than expected. It was lockdown two actually that gave me the time and space to launch myself into it fully. So much fun too, turns out!
I absolutely want to do more and also experiment with different techniques, instruments and the use of voice. I’m sure it will happen, when the time is right.
If someone wanted to learn more about sound baths, are there any inspirational people you’d recommend following or books/ articles to read that give a greater insight into the experience?
Indeed, there is! My teacher and mentor Leo Cosendai is a Sound Meditation legend and one of a kind when it comes to the Gong. His events are a must for any Sound Meditation enthusiasts. For newbies, a great starting point is his audio book ‘7 Days of Sound Meditation’ available on Audible. He is also the founder of the first Sound Meditation app of its kind called Third Ear. Especially worth checking out when on the go or short on time.
A book that I also would highly recommend which goes deeply into the science of Sound Meditation is ‘Sound Medicine’ written by Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D., a leading neurologist, neuroscientist and practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine.
I actually reference her findings in an article I wrote during the first lockdown on the research that has gone into Sound Meditation. If you’re interested to find out more you can find me on The Medium.
What do you have coming up we should look out for and how can readers experience one of your sound baths from home?
I’m excited to announce our new radio show with my close pal and fellow Sound Meditation Practitioner Isabelle Tara going live on Northbound Radio. Please tune into 'A NEW MND' taking place every last Sunday of each month at 12pm. This show is aimed at expanding and relaxing our listeners minds through the power of sound, meditations and expert talks.
To keep up to date with upcoming events and Instagram live sessions follow me on Instagram. I check my DM’s so anyone can always ask me any questions, say hi, or obviously arrange group and private sessions. Anyone signing up to my newsletter will also receive a little welcome discount for their first booking.
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