So what are they? “Singing bowls—both Tibetan brass metal and quartz crystal type—work by striking the bowl gently with a type of instrumental mallet that initiates a specific tone and then dragging that mallet around the outer rim of the bowl to carry the sound and vibration of that tone,” Amy Hausman, a holistic health practitioner and licensed acupuncturist at Co-Creative Healing Arts and Acupuncture in Westchester, New York, says. When you are in the market for a singing bowl, there are several factors to consider. Look for a pleasant, powerful sound and a lasting vibration. You’ll find they come in a variety of sizes and materials to fit different spaces and serve different purposes, from meditation to physical healing. Based on our reviews, there are the best singing bowls on the market. The set comes with a cushion, mallet, and an instructional guide for easy beginner use. The best things about this set are that it makes a great gift and the value it delivers for the price. Keep in mind it is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Plus, it comes with a handmade silk cushion and a mallet. The hand-carved teakwood striker and vibrant cushion are included in the set. The frosted exterior complements the vibrant interior, creating a rainbow effect that offers therapy for your eyes, ears, and mind. The 8-inch bowl is designed for use on the ground and produces a rich, resonant tone when played. One reason for this high-quality tone is that the bowl has a flat bottom, meaning it doesn’t need to rest on a pillow, and the sound has more of a chance to resonate. You can easily change bowls to shift moods or chakra concentrations, and the designs are uniquely crafted for each individual bowl. Plus, the set comes with a carrying case for easy transport. The small 3.5-inch size makes it comfortable to play with and easy to use, and the bowls can be purchased individually or as a set. The set also comes complete with a storage box, a suede mallet, and a silk cushion. For the best sound quality and lasting tone, place the bowl on the floor using the provided rubber ring rather than holding it in your hand. This 8-inch crystal bowl is slightly larger than handheld options but lighter in weight than most large bowls. Additionally, it comes with a heavy-duty carrying case to prevent damage when in transport. It also comes with detailed instructions on how to use the bowl, so you’ll get it singing in no time. The crystal material is also best for bright and clear sounds with lasting vibrations—perfect for yoga classes or meditation sessions.
Size / Weight / Material
Singing bowls come in a variety of sizes and materials, from small, hand-held bowls to larger ones that can be set on the ground or a cushion. Some bowls can weigh over 3 pounds, which may become heavy, so if you’re planning on holding your bowl while playing or taking it on the go, choose a lightweight option.
Vibration
A good bowl should be able to hold its vibration for several tones without quickly tapering off or wavering. The vibration is a big part of the healing quality of a singing bowl, so it’s important to choose a durable bowl with a steady and lasting vibration.
Purpose
With so many different types of bowls to choose from, it’s important to find one that fits your exact needs. A bowl with low tones is best for mediation and yoga, while some believe a bowl with high-pitched tones is best for physical healing and stimulating the immune system. Additionally, a small bowl is designed for smaller spaces and a larger bowl is crafted for a large space or studio.
Why Trust Verywell Mind
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 15 years of experience working with clients who struggle with mental health issues, Mary Tatum understands the importance of finding quality resources and techniques that work for each person. Not everyone will have the same kind of healing journey. Therefore, having lots of options to choose from is vitally important in creating a lifestyle that combats mental illness and promotes health and wellbeing. Singing bowls can be played a few ways. One way, Fouts says, is tapping the sides or the rim of the bowl, which each emit different tones. “Usually the rim has a higher, sharper pitch than the side,” she explains. You can also rub the mallet around the rim with just enough pressure to cause it to vibrate and hum. “It’s not easy to create that hum in all bowls, and many believe that one bowl will play for one person and not another. They sort of have personalities,” Fouts explains. “Thinner bowls that are stamped can be harder to play than thicker-bodied bowls, but it can depend on who is playing.” Additionally, Fouts says that using singing bowls is a form of meditation in its own right—as is playing several bowls in one sitting. “Deciding which bowl to play when and how is an art,” she adds. One way is a sound bath, which Trattner explains as an experience “where you immerse yourself in sound frequency. Sound all around you creates a ‘bath’ of visceral sound where you can feel the frequency of sound in the deepest parts of your body,” she says. On occasion, Fouts says that she puts water in the bowls. “People love to watch them as a demonstration of how much vibration is really happening,” she explains. “I don’t usually use water to tune bowls though.” And while Heidi Dalzell, PsyD, a psychospiritual coach and singing bowl practitioner at Soulful Connections Coaching, doesn’t use water in her bowls, she cautions against consuming any water that has been in a singing bowl. “I don’t think that the charged water is safe to drink,” she says. “Caring for singing bowls is simple, but one must be gentle,” Thielen says. “A soft cloth that you would typically use for dusting works well. If one gets soiled from travel or being passed around, simply use a non-acidic sanitizing cleanser to gently wipe down. I suggest people take care of their bowls as you would a marble countertop.” Most sessions with bowls are about 45 minutes, and follow a certain sequence if you are balancing all the chakras, Dalzell explains. “The bowls are placed around the body with the note pertaining to the particular chakra,” she adds. “They are then striked in sequence to balance each energy center.” If you’re looking to add sound healing to your daily practice, Laine recommends starting with three to five minutes. “My personal magic number is 11 minutes and 11 seconds for any sort of sound healing meditation,” she explains.”But honestly, 30 seconds of sound healing to offset negative sonic experiences in the day is better than nothing.” Additional reporting to this story by Elizabeth Yuko, Ph.D. As a seasoned health writer and editor with a special focus on mental health and well-being, Elizabeth Yuko understands how powerful stress-relieving activities can be for many people—as well as the fact that they’re not one-size-fits-all. With decades of firsthand experience dealing with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, she’s always on the lookout for new (and research-backed) products, techniques, and services that can help people cope with stress and other mental health challenges.
