Six Senses is now offering sound therapies throughout its 27 properties worldwide.
The mindfulness movement of recent years saw meditation become mainstream with time spent meditating around the world increasing by +2,900% since 2020, according to The Global Wellness Institute. And sound healing is set to follow suit as online searches for sound healing surged by +83% in 2023 and the market set to grow globally by +7.8% by 2032, The Global Sound Therapy Market Forecast predicts.
With that in mind, Six Senses has recognised the powerful potential of sound to quiet the mind, as today’s hyper connected traveller increasingly seeks to find calm in a chaotic world.
One of the core senses, sound is an indelible marker of Six Senses and forms part of the brand’s broader ‘emotional hospitality’ ethos.
Sound Healing at Six Senses adapts to incorporate local inspiration, from a full-body sound immersion on a vibroacoustic lounger at Six Senses La Sagesse to the soothing and hypnotic beats of Fijian and oceanic drums during the sound journey at Six Senses Fiji, and even sessions designed for younger guests too. Practices follow the same global vision to help reconnect guests with themselves, others, and the world around them.
Mark Sands, Six Senses VP Wellness, says: “Relentless hyperconnectivity and urgency culture can blur the lines between what is important and what is simply noise. Guided meditation – the mental process of letting go distracting thoughts – can sometimes be hard to commit to especially when feeling overwhelmed. However, introducing sound in the right way can be an additional tool for overcoming stress and anxiety.”
Through a range of brain entrainment techniques, Sound Healing downshifts the normal beta or alert state to alpha or relaxed consciousness, theta or meditative, and eventually delta waves, inducing a deep state of relaxation and healing. The parasympathetic nervous system activates, calming the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response. Six Senses incorporates Sound Healing into a variety of wellness therapies, retreats, and experiences, also making space for silence and the healing power of stillness.
Sands continues: “Sound and music are an effortless way to change your emotional state. We often talk about breath-work, but what’s fascinating about sound is that it all happens without thinking.
“Vibrations of sound touch our whole selves physically and emotionally, offering a fast and safe way to reach altered states of consciousness with research showing that certain frequencies can entrain brainwave patterns. Certain sounds activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the part of the body that regulates rest — helping your muscles to relax, breathing to slow, and blood pressure and heart rate to lower. You may also have a creative ‘aha!’ moment.” Six Senses has recognised the science of sound for over 20 years, while still calling on ancient, high-touch healing practices.”
Six Senses Sound Healing experiences metamorphosise from property to property. Examples include:
The Six Senses Signature Singing Bowl Ritual at all 27 Six Senses worldwide
Incorporated before and after each spa treatment in every Six Senses property, singing bowls are a gentle entry point into this natural healing practice. As the therapist moves the singing bowl in a prescribed path around the shoulders and crown chakra, over the third eye, throat, and heart chakras, coming to rest on the solar plexus chakra, the vibrations travel through the body, triggering a transformation of energy and increasing the benefits of the treatment.
Watsu with Sound Healing
Watsu is a form of water therapy in a heated pool, available in many properties, including with or without singing bowls at Six Senses Kaplankaya and in Kyoto’s only dedicated pool at Six Senses Kyoto. It is a subtle and gentle form of therapy where the body intuitively rebalances the mind.
Raag Therapyat Six Senses Vana, India
Raag therapy at Six Senses Vana brings out positive emotions while listening to the hypnotic sounds of the flute. Six Senses Vana presents a modern-day wellness retreat within ethereal Sal forest. An assembly of Ayurvedic wellness experts, Yoga teachers, Tibetan healers, fitness experts, acupuncturists, reflexologist and therapists guide guests towards balance and rejuvenation.
Group Sessionsat all 27 Six Senses worldwide
Each property infuses a local variation to weekly sound baths and ceremonies. For example, Six Senses Kaplankaya incorporates the pure tones of crystal singing bowls along with oceanic drums to reflect the soundscape of the Aegean Sea. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay offers the added soothing benefit of natural streams flowing in the jungle nearby, while the Ocean Villa at Six Senses Spa Zil Pasyon is situated above the lapping waves of the Indian Ocean.
One-to-one Sessionsat all 27 Six Senses worldwide
60-minute transcendent journeys include a self-reflective process designed to help work through stress or anxiety, ultimately guiding you to discover your true, limitless nature. At Six Senses Douro Valley, sound becomes an immersive experience during a 45-minute floating sound healing sessions, featuring bespoke compositions crafted specifically for underwater environments. On land, binaural beats elevate the biohacking recovery lounge into a sanctuary of tailored rejuvenation.
Retreatsavailable at many properties including Six Senses Crans-Montana in Switzerland, and Six Senses Ibiza.
Beats are integral to Sanctum retreats, coming to Six Senses Crans-Montana from October 3 to 6, 2024. With influences including kundalini, Native American vision quests, Buddhist therapies, primal movement, t’ai chi, and “ha” chanting from Japanese martial arts, the blueprinted Sanctum sequence – part dance, part aerobics, part breathwork, part your own free expression – guides guests to release and let go.
Sound is also central to Alma Festival at Six Senses Ibiza, which includes a rich program of workshops, an ANÍMA x Sonic Live Breathwork session with Rosey Chan; Soma Breath and Ecstatic Dance with Niraj Naik; and a meditative sound healing journey led by JJ Martin and Alexis.
From Sound to Silence
Six Senses recognises the calming influence of silence, harnessing the absence of noise as powerful tool. By resisting the urge to fill every moment with activity, guests can create a moment of stillness to tap into inner wisdom.
Versions of forest bathing and yoga nidra have been available across Six Senses properties for many years, both of which induce conscious meditation. Labyrinths are also used for ritual, meditation, and healing at Six Senses Kaplankaya, Six Senses Zil Pasyon, and Six Senses Fort Barwara.
Some of the activities that were once considered niche can be easily adapted for families through Grow With Six Senses, which incorporates the six dimensions of wellness (social, environmental, physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual) to reconnect with nature and gain useful life skills through play. Children love the tactile nature of singing bowls and drums and find comfort in silence and stillness too.
