SONIC LOUNGER
What is tactile sound?
Tactile sound (vibroacoustics) is the sensation of sound transmitted directly to the human body by contact, rather than by sound waves through the ears. Since the human body is primarily water and sound waves travel five times faster through water than through air, it is an excellent conductor of sound. Tactile sound stimulates the brain and the neural network increasing serotonin, dopamine and other neuropeptides that help to optimize personal performance.
Who invented vibroacoustics?
Vibroacoustic technologies were independently developed in Scandinavia by Olav Skille and Petri Lehikoinen between 1970 and 1980.
Olav Skille presents a theory that builds on the work of Drs. Karel and Heda Jindrak exploring the concept that physical vibrations of sound provide an internal cleansing massage.
Altering brainwaves through sound
Specially engineered music, played through our proprietary delivery system into the lounger, utilizes specific sounds, rhythms and frequencies to entrain brainwave states in the listener. These states include beta (focus), alpha (creativity), theta (deep relaxation or meditation) and delta (deeper levels of meditation or sleep).
Brief history of sound therapy
In the last century, sound therapy has been deeply influenced by the research of French physician Dr. Alfred Tomatis. One of his major discoveries was that the ear’s first function in utero is to govern the growth of the rest of the physical organism and in addition to the ear’s functions of communication and balance, the ear’s primary purpose is to charge the nervous system and neocortex of the brain with electrical impulses created by sound (Joshua Leeds, The Power of Sound). Tomatis concluded that sound is a nutrient and we hear not only with our ears but also with the entire body through skin and bone conduction.
An individual’s response to sound can create changes that slow down the heartbeat and respiration, alter brainwave patterns, activate neurotransmitters and hormones effecting emotional, mental and physical states. Sound can accelerate and excite or decelerate body rhythms into a deeply relaxed and meditative state. Sound therapy is based largely on the sciences of:
Psychoacoustics — the study of physiological and neurological responses to sound, frequency and resonance that includes the study of vibroacoustics.
Music Therapy — therapeutic applications based on the effects of music on the emotions and psychology.
The following is an abbreviated list of the diverse benefits of sound and music therapy:
-
Induces deep relaxation and meditation
- Decreases muscular tension and joint pain
- Assists biological growth and brain development
- Increases creativity, energy and mental focus
- Enhances and deepens sleep
- Catalyzes psycho-spiritual insight, feelings of bliss and a sensation of weightlessness.
- Reduces nausea, headache, anxiety, fatigue and depression
To find out more about sound and music therapy please visit the following links
California Institute of Integral Studies
Offering certificates in Sound, Voice and Music Healing
Music producer, leading educator and sound researcher
Offering a degree in Music Therapy
Book Recommendations
The Power of Sound: How to Manage Your Personal Soundscape for a Vital, Productive & Healthy Life and Sonic Alchemy: Conversations with Leading Sound Practitioners by Joshua Leeds
The Healing Power of Sound by Mitchell L. Gaynor, M.D.
The Conscious Ear: My Life of Transformation Through Listening by Dr. Alfred Tomatis
The Mozart Effect by Don Campbell
The Yoga of Sound by Russill Paul