Care home residents were left \u201cincredibly calm\u201d after unusual sound bath sessions with Tibetan singing bowls, crystal harps and ancient healing techniques.<\/p>\n
Staff at Pendine Park\u2019s Gwern Alyn and Hillbury homes in Wrexham said the sessions had a remarkable relaxing effect on residents, with many remaining peaceful and content for hours afterwards.<\/p>\n
The immersive classes use instruments including gongs, drums and chimes to create soothing vibrations believed to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.<\/p>\n
Enrichment activities coordinator Anita Moran said residents and their families were so impressed after the first session at Hillbury that further sound baths were arranged at both homes which are next door to each other.<\/p>\n
The sessions are being hosted at the homes by reflexologist Angie Birkinshaw, a retired headteacher who has been holding sound baths for three years in and around Wrexham through her Reiki Sounds business.<\/p>\n
Anita, who has been an activities co-ordinator for two years, said: \u201cOur first session with Angie was held in Hillbury and the residents loved it and the family members loved it too, they still go on about it now, and so we\u2019ve organised another session there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe care staff were telling me after the first session all the residents were so calm in the evening, it was incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe residents who took part said they really enjoyed it, it was just something new to try and it was very popular.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard about Angie because one of her friend\u2019s dad is a resident in Hillbury.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe then asked Angie to have sessions here in Gwern Alyn too and we were delighted she agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe calming effects of the sound bath seem to really help the residents, they bring a very nice and peaceful atmosphere and the effect seems to last for a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is amazing what it does.<\/p>\n
\u201cMusic is always popular in our homes, but this is a different musical sound, you hear it and you can feel it too.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do a lot of activities here in the homes but the sound baths are definitely one of the more unusual things we have put on for residents and they are going down ever so well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sound baths are definitely out there a bit, but it is wonderful to give the residents a new experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angie, from Gresford, said she was delighted to hold the free sessions at the homes and allow the residents to enjoy the sound baths, which have roots in many ancient civilisations.<\/p>\n
The 56-year-old mum-of-two, a former headteacher at Bronington School, said: \u201cThe residents were very quiet during the sound bath at the first session in Hillbury and I was told that was unexpected for them to be so quiet, and I think they really enjoyed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got into sound baths basically by just going to one or two that other people did to find out more about them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a reflexologist as well and the lady who taught me reflexology used to do sound baths as well so at the end of our reflexology training she would get her instruments out and do a sound bath, and that is where I picked it up from and I love it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSound healing is thousands of years old, so ancient tribes would use instruments as a celebration and as a way of communicating and it developed from there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Tibetan monks used the bowls as a form of worship and it is an ancient practice which is why they are mostly percussion instruments.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther countries have used them for a long time, Thailand and Nepal for example.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angie explained there was a real science to the instruments and their effects.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThe key thing is all the instruments have a resonance and they are all at about 430Hz, which is the key Hertz for relaxation.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo even though they are all different pitches, the actual wavelength is the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sounds fill your body up because at the end of the day our bodies are atoms and so when the instruments vibrate they make our atoms in our bodies, our bones and in our organs vibrate and respond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vibrations from the sound instruments change your beta waves in your brain into alpha, delta or theta waves which make your brain more relaxed – they actually change your brainwave.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if you\u2019re stressed and busy, it actually changes that brainwave to a calmer state, that is scientific evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have told me that after my sessions they have enjoyed better sleep, better pain management, they feel more relaxed, it balances the body.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do this for payment in places such at community centres in Black Park, Gwersyllt and Marford but the sessions at the care homes are free because I want to give something back.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy key thing is I want to use this as a healing mechanism.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople can contact me through my Reiki Sounds Facebook page.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angie is also a volunteer listener with The Samaritans and retired from her headteacher\u2019s role at Bronington School three years ago.<\/p>\n
She has also worked at Cunnington Primary School near Northwich and at Victoria Infants School in Chester.<\/p>\n
Many of the residents had a chance to try out some of Angie\u2019s instruments at the end of the session.<\/p>\n
Susan Vaughan had a go on the Tibetan singing bowl, and said: \u201cI enjoyed it very much, I found it very relaxing and I have never experienced anything quite like it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful really.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beryl Roberts said: \u201cI thought it was really interesting, I have never had a sound bath before, it was definitely something different.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really liked it, and I really like all kinds of music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gwen Davies said: \u201cI really enjoyed it, I had never heard of a sound bath before to be honest, I thought it was marvellous.\u201d<\/p>\n