An Introduction to Singing Bowls
All singing bowls purchased in Nepal by Yakyak are hand picked for their purity and long lasting sound quality. We select a wide variety of hand-beaten singing bowls in different sizes and weights, and a small selection of machine-turned singing bowls.
According to tradition, singing bowls date back as far as the 6th century B.C. They were traditionally made from an alloy of 7 different metals: copper, tin, silver, nickel, iron, zinc, and a very small amount of gold. They produce a sound which can invoke a deep state of relaxation and so are popularly used as aids to meditation and to alleviate symptoms of stress. Many people involved in alternative and complementary therapies use singing bowls in sound therapy, reiki healing, chakra balancing, and crystal healing.
How you play a singing bowl is by placing the bowl in the palm of the hand with outstretched fingers, leaving the bowl free to ring as it vibrates. The other hand holds a stick which can be used to strike the bowl (usually a stick with a woollen covered hammer head) or using a wooden or suede covered stick which is run slowly around the outer rim of the bowl to make it vibrate and “sing.” Certain bowls played in this way will produce a basic note accompanied by rich harmonics. If too much or too little pressure is applied, or the stick rotated around the singing bowl at the wrong speed, an unpleasant rattling sound results. This is a common complaint amongst people who are new to singing bowls but soon disappears with practice.
