May 14, 2024 – Sound, one of our fundamental senses, plays a crucial role in our wellness therapies, retreats, and experiences, alongside the healing power of silence. Here’s how we incorporate both into our offerings.
Sound is a universal force, deeply affecting us physically and emotionally. Our VP of Wellness, Mark Sands, with 20 years of industry experience, ensures our properties blend ancient sound healing practices with modern audio technology. “Sound and music effortlessly alter our emotional states,” Mark explains. “Unlike breathwork, sound works through vibrations, touching us on physical and emotional levels.
It’s embedded in every culture, and its transformative power on our guests is truly remarkable.”
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Sound healing’s origins are ancient and widespread. Australian Aboriginal tribes used the didgeridoo for healing 40,000 years ago. In the Kathmandu Valley, the Shakya clan crafts Tibetan singing bowls, continuing a tradition from the time of Buddha.
These bowls create frequencies that restore energy flow in the body, promoting well-being. At our spas, a signature singing bowl ritual precedes and concludes treatments, guiding guests to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with themselves. The therapist’s movements with the bowl across various chakras facilitate an energy transformation, enhancing the treatment’s benefits and concluding with the respectful wai gesture, honoring our Asian heritage.
Sound baths, part of our group activities, are effective in calming the mind. Each property offers a local twist: Six Senses Vana features Raag therapy with flute sounds, Six Senses Spa Elounda combines crystal singing bowls with oceanic drums to mimic the Aegean soundscape, and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay’s jungle spa benefits from natural streams.
Private sound healing sessions help manage stress or anxiety, activating the parasympathetic nervous system to induce relaxation. At Six Senses Spa Douro Valley, underwater sound healing sessions feature mantra music, dolphin sounds, or bespoke compositions, while on land, binaural beats aid in meditation, reducing random thoughts.
Our Sanctum retreats integrate sound with practices like kundalini, Native American vision quests, and Buddhist therapies. Upcoming retreats at Six Senses Rome (May 24-26) and Six Senses Crans-Montana (October 3-6, 2024) offer a blend of dance, aerobics, breathwork, and free expression. Six Senses Vana will host Echoes of the Mystic, a Kabir Musical Retreat by Vipul Rikhi, from June 17 to 22, 2024.
For those inspired to create their own music, the beachfront Recording Studio at Six Senses Ibiza provides top-notch equipment and professional support, allowing guests to produce, mix, and record music, inspired by the island’s natural beauty.
Silence, too, is a powerful tool. Overstimulation and noise are pervasive in our busy lives, and vacations provide an ideal opportunity to reset. Mark emphasizes the importance of stillness for inner wisdom.
Our aquatic bodywork sessions, such as Watsu therapy, combine gentle stretches and deep relaxation to rebalance the mind and body. Activities like forest bathing, yoga nidra, and contemplative walks through labyrinths, such as the one at Six Senses Kaplankaya, encourage mindfulness and connection with oneself.
These sound and silent therapies require no special preparation or equipment, making them accessible to everyone, including children who find comfort in the tactile nature of singing bowls and drums, and even in silence. What was once considered niche is now embraced by guests of all ages, offering profound ways to connect with what truly matters.
