27 Things Nobody Tells You Before Your First Sound Bath | Jenn Vagios

If you've never been to a sound bath, you probably have questions.

Will I fall asleep?

What if I can't relax?

What if I cry?

What if my mind won't stop thinking?

Good news: almost everything you're wondering is completely normal.

Here are 27 things I wish someone had told me before my very first sound bath.

Before you arrive…

Avoid eating a huge meal, spicy bean chili is probably a “no.” Give time to digest.
Wear comfortable clothes (like pajamas, sweats, nothing tight).
Depending on where the event is located you might want to bring a yoga mat, blanket, layers, a pillow, an eye pillow, people bring huge comforters, sleeping bags, bolsters for under their knees, chairs (yup).

What happens during…

4. You can't be bad at sound bathing.
One of the most common things I hear after a first session is, "I don't think I did it right."
Trust me—if you showed up, you did it right.

5. Snoring happens. You’ll get a gentle bump if it’s too loud.

6. Thoughts happen. Thinking never stops but it might slow down. It’s not BAD if you think; you might need to think in order to let shit go.

7. Your streaming of thoughts may go all over the map. Thoughts can come up from your childhood, memories, dreams, fears, worries, nostalgia, your past, your future

8. You may want to open your eyes. You maybe curious just enough to take a peak, that’s totally cool with me, 1st timers sometimes can’t help themselves.

9. You may need or want to move. It’s normal, common and okay if you feel “fidgety or need to shift positions.” Again, your mind might be busy, your body might feel restless and that’s all OK. You can rotate, move, lie on your side, belly, and sit up. You can even “look” and see what’s happening.

10. You might fall asleep. You might also be awake AF.

11. You might feel like you’re “glued to the earth” and deeply relax.

12. You might get really emotional and cry, have mascara running down your face and puffy eyes afterwards. {Note: loud emoting -crying, whaling, screaming, moaning} is not allowed.

13. Some noises might be annoying AF and bother you. Some sounds/instruments might be annoying and even irritate you. That’s ok.

14. Farts happen. I once farted while playing the gong at a sound bath and well, “the gong made me do it as it always does.”

15. External noises happen. Phones ring. People cough and sneeze. Cars drive by. Babies cry, children laugh, dogs bark, cell phones ring, people talk, shit falls over, fans creak. It’s all sound and vibration and the best thing to do is “let it be.”

16. You might NOT feel relaxed.

17. Many people notice certain areas of their body seem to draw their attention during a sound bath. Sometimes it's a place where they're already holding tension or recovering from an injury. Everyone's experience is different.

18. Your skin is like a giant ear. You skin hears sound and feels sound. You may notice vibrations throughout your body. Some people describe it as feeling like an internal massage. Because sound travels as vibration, many people become more aware of sensations they hadn't noticed before.

19. You’re allowed to get up if feeling uncomfortable, like a sound is too loud or you feel anxious.

20. Healing is hard and it’s typically not comfortable. That means every sound bath will be different and you might not be blissed out of your mind drooling on your mat.

21. You might have a huge healing dump. Sound Baths can feel like therapy sessions minus the talking part.

22. You might experience a creative session (like plan your book, write a chapter)

23. You might make a big decision because your mind is just clearer and it might be one you’ve been having a tough time with.

After…

24. Drink a lot of water, don’t get drunk. Keep your body and mind clean (you can do it for one night). Fries and a Burger might be exactly what you need, but some root veggies and protein are also good.

25. Do whatever you need immediately after - sometimes that means no talking, no lingering, no socializing just straight home, to journal, go to bed, process.

26. You may feel blissed, less anxious, relaxed, calmer the next day or even the entire week!

27. You might be wide awake and buzzing, alert, restless after and the entire night and not sleep well. That’s not uncommon and okay.

Show up, keep an open mind. Rinse and Repeat.

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