Article by Bianca Sengos, Rainbow Sounds
Pro Tip: Repetition is the key to real rewiring
As an electrical being, let me inform you that your brain is not hardwired. It’s absolutely re-wireable!
Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness, simply put is a modern, science-informed practice that combines breath, movement, and sound to activate your body’s nervous system while rewiring your brain for clarity, calm, and conscious change. - Sounds cool right?
Whether you're trying to de-stress, shift emotional patterns, or establish new daily habits, the key ingredient is simple: Repetition, Repetition and…. Repetition
What is Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness?
“Neuro” refers to the brain and nervous system. “Somatic” means relating to the body. Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness connects both. We are teaching the mind through the body.
Rather than sitting still in silence trying to meditate, this method uses gentle movement, vocal toning (yes, using your voice), and rhythmic breath to activate both the vagus nerve and the brain’s plasticity pathways.
It’s simple science and there is so much real research showing that calm embodied practices, when repeated and repeated.. and yes repeated again, can shift us out of the Sympathetic Nervous System and into a Parasympathetic Nervous System response.
Repetition Matters in Rewiring the Brain
Your brain is constantly shaping itself based on what you repeatedly think, feel, and do. This is called neuroplasticity. - OMG.. everything I think, feel and do!!! Something to ponder.
Fact: Neurons That Fire Together, Wire Together.
This famous quote explains why repetition matters. Each time you engage in a calming, mindful practice, especially one that engages your whole body inside and out will strengthen that neural pathway. Over time, it becomes your new default. - Sign me up!
For Example:
- Repeating slow, rhythmic breathing as you strike a crystal bowl on each breath and exhale during the singing of that bowl slowly, can calm an anxious baseline.
- Repeating grounding vocal sounds out loud as you play a crystal bowl slowly can calm thoughts and strengthen your vagus nerve.
- Repeating a combined motion of breath, sound and mindful movement in a sequency, then sitting with the sound of a crystal bowl can retrain your body’s stress response.
Ok, let’s think of it like creating a new walking path through a forest. The more you take that path, the clearer and easier it becomes. Eventually, the old path fades away.
The Science Behind the Rainbow Sounds Methods
Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness engages key systems in the brain and body:
- The vagus nerve, which regulates your rest-digest state, is stimulated by breath, voice, and movement.
- The limbic system, which governs emotion and memory, is softened by rhythmic, predictable patterns.
- The prefrontal cortex, your decision-making centre, is strengthened through intentional repetition, giving you greater self-regulation over time.
Studies have shown that practices combining voice, sound, and somatic movement can lead to; reduced cortisol levels, improved emotional resilience, and even changes in brainwave patterns from high-stress beta states to more relaxed alpha and theta states.
I mean… this is so cool, why not do this daily!
Let’s Start a Daily Neuro-Somatic Repetition/Ritual
Try this sequence while sitting, do it daily for 10 minutes:
-
Sound, Breath, Sound: Strike your crystal bowl, inhale slowly for 8 counts, exhale and say Yummmm, sound this out for as long as you can, using all your breath without excessive force. Repeat 6–8 times. (A fun word helps in this practice and it can be any word ideally ending in mmm so u feel a hum in your chest)
-
Sound, Motion, Sound: Play a crystal bowl slowly twice round. Inhale a long slow breath in while gently side twisting your body, exhale slowly and say Ahhhh, sound this out for as long as you can, using all your breath without excessive force. The swap sides. Repeat 6–8 times. (Side twist is a great morning detox, and with the sound your body will instantly recognise this sound “Ahhh” as being relaxing and signal your mind and body to do just that…)
- Sound, Listen, Feel: Strike a crystal bowl, your hands on your heart and sense what’s present, listen to your breath and feel your heart beat. Sit for as long as you need as you admire your amazing body breathing and beating all on its own.
This is an awesome mindfulness ritual that will be sure to strengthen your repetition discipline as you go about your day and make a mission to rewire those pathways you're no longer wanting to include in your life.
At Rainbow Sounds, we believe in sound as a pathway to transformation. When paired with conscious breath and mindful motion, it becomes a neuro-somatic ritual, rewiring your brain and body to elevate your awareness and live in the present moment.
With Love and Kindness,
Bianca Sengos.
