FAQs
Sound bath questions, answered
The questions people ask most: what happens in a sound bath, how long it lasts, who leads it, how to book, and how to use the instrument on the front page.
What actually happens in a sound bath?
You lie down comfortably and relax while we play crystal bowls, gongs and other instruments. You rest and listen.
How long is a sound bath?
Group sound baths run 45 to 75 minutes. Private and corporate sessions are set when you book.
Do I need meditation experience?
None at all. A sound bath is one of the easiest ways in, because the sound does the work.
How is this different from meditation?
You do not have to focus or clear your mind. You simply receive the sound.
What if I fall asleep?
Totally fine, and very common. Your body is resting.
What should I bring and wear?
Loose clothing you can lie down in, and an open mind. Mats, bolsters, blankets and eye pillows are provided. See What to expect.
Why quartz crystal bowls?
Quartz sustains. A struck quartz bowl gives up its energy slowly, so the tone thins out rather than stopping, and it lingers long enough to be felt in the body as much as heard. Because nothing ends, nothing asks for your attention back. The seven bowls are tuned to a scale with no semitone in it, so no two notes clash in any order. There is more about the bowls themselves.
Who leads the sessions?
Tassy Martin, the founder of roots and resonance sound studio, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She came to sound therapy as a listener first: she lay down at a sound bath looking for a little quiet and found a kind of rest that asked nothing of her. She kept going back, wanted to understand what was happening in the room, and then to offer it to other people. The quartz bowls are what held her, and she built her practice around seven of them. About our founder.
Is it safe, or are there precautions?
Gentle and safe for most people. Tell us if you are pregnant, have epilepsy, wear a pacemaker, have sound sensitivity or a mental health condition, and we will adapt.
Is it religious?
No. It draws on ancient traditions and is open to everyone, no belief required.
Is it a medical treatment?
No. It is a wellness and relaxation practice. It is not medical or psychological treatment, is not intended to diagnose or treat anything, and does not replace professional care. The full disclaimer says the same at greater length.
Can I book a private or corporate session?
Yes to both. Private sessions are for one or two and built around whatever you arrive with. Corporate sessions are brought to your workplace or held in the studio, and are quoted to the group. See Sessions for the formats and Pricing for what they cost.
How do I book?
Book now is at the foot of every page. If you have questions first, Contact takes them before you commit to anything.
Do you offer gift cards?
Yes, in any amount or for a named session. See Gift cards.
Can I use the bowls on the front page at home?
Yes, that is what they are for. The seven bowls on the front page are a working instrument, not a picture of one. Turn the sound on and leave it: it plays indefinitely and never loops, because the bowls are struck on no schedule you can learn. People use it under a sitting practice, in place of a timer, while falling asleep, or to quiet a room. There is no account, nothing to install and nothing that expires. Touch a bowl to open what that part of the practice is about.
How do I turn the sound on or off?
The sound stays off until you turn it on. The switch at the foot of the front page reads sound off or sound on, and one tap changes it. Nothing else on the page starts or stops the sound. Speakers help if you have them: the lowest bowl is a C at 256 hertz, and small laptop speakers lose much of the part you feel rather than hear.
What if motion is difficult?
The front page follows your device’s reduced-motion setting: the bowls settle into one still frame, and the sound and the reading carry on as normal.