“Music is what feelings sound like,” said musician Georgia Cates. And when you listen to the right combination of sounds, they can help you relax, let go, and rewire.

Sound can be medicine. How so?

Sound, the subtlest medicine

In ayurveda, everything in the universe is made up of five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. The most subtle of these is ether, or space. And sound is the subtle quality, or expression, of space, which we perceive through our ears.

Sound, then, is more than vibration. It’s a powerful, subtle force of healing. Because it’s rooted in the most refined element, it can travel easily and connect directly with the nervous system.

And when you put the right vibrational frequencies together, sound becomes one of the fastest ways to shift into a parasympathetic, rest-and-restore state. It’s about the rhythm, resonance, and repetition.

Chanting for balance

That’s why chanting and singing bowls have long been central to ayurvedic and yogic practices.

You may have heard “aum” at the beginning or end of a yoga class. But this primordial sound is far more than a ritual cue; it’s considered the seed sound of the universe.

Repeating mantras like “So hum” or “Om Namah Shivaya” creates subtle vibrations that soothe the mind, help the body release tension, and balance the doshas. Very roughly, doshas are the bio-energies that govern your physiological functioning, according to ayurvedic medicine.

Singing bowls, especially those tuned to specific frequencies, can do the same—offering vibrational alignment when the mind feels scattered.

In ayurvedic psychology, mantra is a kind of mental nutrition, helping digest emotions the way food nourishes the body.

And for the yogis out there: the right sound combinations invite sattva—purity, clarity, and balance—into the mind and body.

Sound and brain science

Modern neuroscience also recognizes the power of sound to change mental states.

One powerful method is Hemi-Sync®, short for hemispheric synchronization. It’s a trademarked sound-based technology developed by Robert Monroe. It uses binaural beats, layered sound patterns, and other auditory stimuli to synchronize brain activity and induce desired mental states.

The result? In this example, a calm, centered state without needing to “try” to relax. Your nervous system simply responds to the sound.

Here’s how it works: Two slightly different frequencies are played in each ear. Your brain doesn’t hear them separately; it interprets them as a single, third frequency. That’s the binaural beat.

Over time, your brain’s electrical activity starts to entrain—or synchronize—with this beat, guiding your brainwaves into specific states. For example:

• Delta waves support deep, restorative sleep
• Theta waves support deep meditation and creative insight

Ayurveda and Hemi-Sync: same goal, different methods

Mantras, singing bowls, and hemi-sync may look different, but they all use rhythmic, immersive sound to alter mental and emotional states.

Let’s take “So hum,” as an example.

The “So hum”, translated as “I am that”, mantra is a simple yet powerful practice that connects breath with sound. It’s often recommended to people new to meditation because it’s the perfect balance of being and doing when you’re just starting out.

When you inhale “So” and exhale “Hum,” you’re syncing breath and brain into a meditative rhythm. Want to go deeper? Pair it with nadi shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing, for a powerful mind-body reset.

Another classic is “Om Namah Shivaya,” repeated slowly and deliberately. Each syllable vibrates through the chakras, aligning inner energies, similar to how binaural beats entrain brainwaves into specific patterns.

You’ll even find chakra meditations that incorporate Hemi-Sync technology.

Try it: from ancient to modern

From low to high tech, there’s a sound-based option for everyone.

🎧 Traditional chants

• So hum
• Om Nama Shivaya
• Ra Ma Da Sa

🎧 Natural rhythm-based sounds

• Repetitive nature sounds like rain, waves, or wind chimes
• Slow, droning instrumental music
• Singing bowls with a fixed, steady rhythm

🎧 Hemi-Sync and brainwave entrainment

• Monroe Institute’s guided meditations
• Brain.fm’s focus or sleep tracks
• Binaural beat meditations on Insight Timer
• Delta and theta wave music on YouTube

To come full circle, “music is what feelings sound like”. So, let’s make it a pleasant one!

Disclaimer: this post is intended to educate and entertain, and should not be considered as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider about your specific health concerns. 

Image by Tirachard Kumtanom, Pexels