The History of Sound Baths, Yoga and the Aerial Arts

You may think these three topics are completely unrelated from each other, but in recent years, these subjects have evolved and become integrated together.

In this blog post, you’ll get the chance to learn how Sound Baths, Yoga and the Aerial Arts originated around the world over hundreds, or even thousands of years. As well as the benefits of these activities. Happy reading!

Sound Healing Origins

In the Asian Himalayan Mountain Range, instruments have been used for spiritual purposes since ancient times. In addition, physicians from both Ancient Greece and Egypt have believed the vibrations absorbed from certain objects could treat and prevent medical conditions.

Pythagoras has been called the “Father of Music.” He had a theory that the soul could be adjusted with certain harmonic intervals.

Beginning in the Middle Ages, cathedrals were built with bells that play music as it was believed those acoustics would bring people closer to their Divine Creator.

In the 18th and 19th century, drummer boys were used in military battles so the music would raise the troops’ overall morale and vigor to fight. This is why military bands are a tradition that continues to this day.

Sound Baths as we know them today, started to gain popularity in the Western World in the 1960’s by a niche group of people. In only the last 2-3 decades, medical professionals and scientists have conducted experiments and studies that confirm these long-held beliefs that frequencies can reduce insomnia, digestive issues, and stress, among many other benefits. 

  Brief History of Yoga

Yoga has its roots in India. Documentation of the practice began around 3,000 BC.

The word roughly translates to “to unite” in the Sanskrit language. Uniting the mind, body and spirit through movement, breath and meditation.

Many of the philosophies found in yoga were adopted from Buddhist beliefs, such as maintaining morality through non-stealing and non-violence.

Many people today have a misconception that yoga is simply a workout that people do for weight loss or to show off their flexibility. However, practitioners quickly learn that practicing yoga improves the quality of their life overall and helps them to show up in the world as the best version of themselves.

Like Sound Baths, yoga also began spreading to the Western World around the 1960’s. There are many variations and styles of yoga, some are slower and meditative, such as Restorative and Chair Yoga. While others are faster and physically challenging, such as Buti and Baptiste.

Yoga has gained a lot of popularity over the past decade and it has broken barriers. For example, people who use to think it wasn’t right for them have now fallen in love with the practice.

Origins of the Aerial Arts

Aerial Artforms were birthed during the creation of circuses. The earliest use of the word “circus” refers to Ancient Roman Colosseums where there were chariot races, gladiator fights and trained animals on display.

The circus that we are familiar with today began in 14th century France. Acts included jugglers, unicyclists, clowns and acrobats. These groups of performers began traveling from Paris around Europe soon after the French Revolution.

While Aerial Hoop was first performed in the 1890’s in New York City, the use of Aerial Silks is a little more contemporary. It started in the 1950’s at a small circus school in France, using strong and stretchy fabric as a means of performance.

Aerial Silks has been popularized by the French-Canadian organization Cirque Du Soleil, meaning “Circus of The Sun”.

What was once only reserved to those lucky enough to be born into a circus family, is now available for the general public to learn through local gyms or online tutorial videos.

Tying it All Together

Aerial Restorative Yin Yoga with Sound Bath Meditation is the perfect blend of all of these modalities.

Silks are rigged low to the ground and practitioners hold passive Asanas which last 3-5 minutes within the hammock.

During the Asanas, a Sound Healer creates powerful frequencies to amplify the relaxing experience.

The combination of all three is a rather rare opportunity, so if you get the chance to attend, I suggest you try it out! Don’t forget to check out our Aerial and Trapeze Yoga Classes.

Written by Sage Flugenzio