by Bettina Neumann

In the last century, Edgar Cayce predicted that the medicine of the future would be sound and music. Sound Healing can be traced back 40,000 years. In ancient times, it was thought to promote relaxation and ward off evil spirits. In modern times, research shows that healing sounds and music are linked to many benefits, such as lowering stress, boosting immune function, reducing digestive issues, and balancing the nervous system—all of which ancient cultures knew instinctively.

Sound healing uses specific frequencies to balance the nervous system, enabling it to counter chronic overwhelm and anxiety. Specific frequencies entrain the brain so that it falls into sync with the sound wave, calming your mind and bringing you back to balance.

My first personal experience with sound healing was when I was  traveling in India. I strained my knee, and walking was painful. After one hour of a one-on-one sound healing session, the pain was almost gone. I was curious and wanted to know more, so I studied it.


The  vibrations of sound healing instruments penetrate deep into the tissues and bones, improving blood circulation and metabolism and regulating muscle tension.

The best known instruments in sound healing are the gong, crystal bowls, Tibetan crystal bowls, chimes, the voice, and percussion instruments. Many people expect  to lie down on a mat and simply absorb the sounds in a sound healing session, mostly in groups. However, I encourage people to interact with the sounds, movements, and voice,  immersing the whole body in the sound waves and frequencies.  

One-on-one sound healing sessions are good for working with pain/tension relief,  muscle stiffness and balancing the nervous system. Tuning forks and other sound healing instruments can invigorate lost vibrations, which may have made you  feel stuck or unbalanced. This frees up what is stuck, so that energy can flow freely.

 Bettina Neumann is a licensed physical therapist, a certified CranioSacral Therapist, a certified integrative sound healer, a practitioner of health rhythms, a Tamalpa teacher training graduate, and a teacher in training with the 5Rhythms. She founded Aurras Transformation and Rising Sun Physical Therapy. Her life experience as a mother and cancer survivor led her to her passion for expressive dance, movement, art, and ritual, which she calls her medicine. However, her healing journey and nature’s elements are her most consequential teacher. Thirty-five years as a physical therapist made her firmly believe the body can heal itself. Holistic, intuitive, evidence-based medicine and methods helped thousands of patients recover from cancer, lymphedema, chronic pain, and pelvic floor dysfunctions. She combines her experience, tools, and intuition to guide people through transformative journeys and open up the opportunity to lead a joy-filled life.

She offers experiences online and in-person in the greater Bay Area and San Francisco. She seeks opportunities to expand her lifework into communities nationally and worldwide and build bridges between illness and wellness.

Join Bettina in-person this month for Awakening your Inner Rhythms – A Sound Healing Journey on Saturday, December 16 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm PST. Space is limited, please sign up in advance! Thank you.