Good vibrations: Sound baths use ancient techniques for creating calm

Andrea Kintzley, owner of Soul Space Wellness, uses these tuning forks during one-on-one sound bath sessions. She places the handle on specific areas of the body so that the client can feel the vibrations while hearing the tone. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates crystal singing bowls on March 10 at Soul Space Wellness in the O.O. Howard House. She has a set of several bowls of different sizes, as well as metal and glass bowls, a gong, chimes and rattles and a crystal “singing pyramid.” (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley, owner of Soul Space Wellness in Vancouver, learned how to play the crystal singing bowls a few years ago. Now she offers group and private sound bath sessions as well as reiki, a form of energy healing. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates a handheld singing bowl at her studio, Soul Space Wellness. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley uses a silicone-coated mallet to coax healing tones from a crystal singing during a demonstration on March 10. She plays a set of seven singing bowls for sound bath sessions, as well as an array of other instruments like a gong, Tibetan metal bowls and chimes. She said she’s seen a real upsurge in interest in sound baths in recent years. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates crystal singing bowls and other sound therapy instruments on March 10 at Soul Space Wellness in the O.O. Howard Building. She uses a silicone-coated mallet to produce different tones and vibrations which can relax the body. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates crystal singing bowls on March 10, 2026, at Soul Space Wellness in the O.O. Howard House. Everybody hears the same thing during a sound bath, Kintzley said, but each person experiences it differently. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Tibetan singing bowls sit on a rug March 10, 2026, at Soul Space Wellness in the O.O. Howard Building. Studio owner Andrea Kintzley plays these small metal bowls as well as the large, white crystal bowls during sound baths. The tones and vibrations are believed to promote relaxation. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates a crystal singing pyramid on March 10, 2026, at Soul Space Wellness in Vancouver. This is one of several instruments she plays during sound baths, including crystal and metal singing bowls, chimes and rattles. The sounds and vibrations are believed to promote deep relaxation. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates a crystal pyramid on March 10 at her Vancouver studio, Soul Space Wellness. The pyramid is rung with a mallet and then spun, spreading sound waves throughout the room. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates a crystal pyramid and other sound therapy instruments on March 10, 2026, at Soul Space Wellness in the O.O. Howard House. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Andrea Kintzley demonstrates crystal singing bowls and other sound therapy instruments March 10 at Soul Space Wellness in the O.O. Howard House. Kintzley offers regular sound baths in response to the increased interest in sound healing. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Rachel Fouts-Carrico is a Vancouver sound bath practitioner who offers sessions in her home and at Lilith House holistic wellness center. (Contributed photo)

Rachel Fouts-Carrico plays one of her crystal singing bowls in her home studio. (Contributed photo)

Rachel Fouts-Carrico, a Vancouver sound bath practitioner, has five crystal singing bowls but also plays other instruments during sound baths. (Contributed photo)

Each of Rachel Fouts-Carrico’s crystal singing bowls is attuned to a different chakra, or body’s energy center in yogic teaching. Here, Fouts-Carrico plays the “root chakra” bowl. (Contributed photo)