Why Sound Matters in Somatic Spinal Work: A Conversation Between Body and Brain

Sound isn’t just heard – it’s felt. It moves through the body, vibrating through tissue, bone, and breath. In somatic spinal work such as Spinal Energetics, sound can be both used intentionally and arise spontaneously. Practitioners may use sound through breath, tone, or gentle vocal resonance to support shifts in the nervous system. But often, the most powerful sounds are the ones that emerge on their own – a sigh, a hum, a cry, or something you didn’t expect. These aren’t performances; they’re responses. Signs that the body is softening, processing, reorganising.

Sound is not performance, it’s a response

CYMATICS AND THE SOUNDS THAT MOVE US

There’s something ancient and quietly astonishing about the way sound moves through the world. Cymatics (the study of how sound frequencies create patterns in physical matter) shows us that vibration isn’t random. It brings form. Water, sand, cells – all respond. Geometry emerges. Chaos finds shape.

Our bodies are made of the same stuff. So it makes sense then that when sound moves through us — whether heard, felt, or expressed – it can help bring coherence to what’s felt fragmented. It can soften tightness, loosen old stories, reconnect parts of us that have been held apart.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SOUND AND SAFETY

Our bodies are wired to respond to sound. The vagus nerve, which plays a critical role in regulating the autonomic nervous system, has branches that connect to the larynx, pharynx, and muscles of facial expression (Porges, 2011). This means that vocalising, sighing, or even humming can send signals of safety to the brain.

In particular, ventral vagal activation – associated with calm, social engagement, and connection – can be supported by vocal tones. This is why spontaneous vocalisations can be part of the body’s natural healing process. Sound becomes a form of neuroregulation.

WHY THE MUSIC MIGHT CHANGE

If you’ve experienced Spinal Energetics, you may have noticed music shifting mid-session. This isn’t just for ambiance. Music is a carrier of vibration, tempo, and emotion. Sometimes the body responds to a certain rhythm, frequency, or mood; and that feedback can subtly guide the practitioner to change the sound environment.

Think of it as matching the emotional tone of the moment. The music may soften as the nervous system drops into deeper parasympathetic states, or become more expansive when energy is moving and releasing.

WHY THE PRACTITIONER MAY USE SOUND

Practitioners sometimes vocalise or use breath during a session. This is a form of co-regulation. Research shows that humans can co-regulate each other’s nervous systems through voice, tone, and presence (Feldman, 2007). A soft exhale, a low tone, or even a grounding vocalisation from the practitioner can invite the client’s system to mirror that same shift.

Sound also travels through the fascia and fluid systems of the body. So it isn’t just heard – it’s felt. It creates resonance and helps dislodge stuck energy that may be stored in the tissues or energetic field.

Sound as a Portal for Release

Sound reminds us that regulation isn't always quiet. Sometimes it has a voice. Whether it’s a quiet breath or a full-body vocal release, sound is one way the body remembers how to feel. It’s ancient. It’s cellular. It’s not about making something happen, but allowing something to move. Even stillness is powerful. But if sound arises, know it’s your body’s way of communicating, not just with the practitioner, but with itself.

Curious what sound might unlock in you?

This work isn’t about doing it right. It’s about responding to what your nervous system needs, and the subtleties that are felt. Whether it’s a sigh, a hum, or silence, your body knows what it needs to shift. If you’re ready to explore how sound, sensation, and your nervous system intertwine, I’d love to hold that space with you.

Book a session or reach out with any questions, and let’s listen to what your system is ready to share.

Branching out

Curious minds, open hearts — these related pieces might speak to what’s unfolding for you.

Cymatics: Science vs Music: https://youtu.be/Q3oItpVa9fs?si=EWcGJUYm3C4uNHAf

Original cymatics experiments from 1960s by Swiss Scientist, Dr. Hands Jenny (4 part video series):
Part 1 - Bringing Matter to Life with Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmsfuj1Rk9c

Part 2 - The Healing Nature of Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57JpuMnWS1I

Part 3 - Application of Cymatic Therapy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kjJ3tiT9pU

Part 4 - Experiments In Animation With Sound & Vibration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfDQrhtXlA4

CymaticsLab – The Fascinating World of Cymatics: https://cymaticslab.com/blogs/news/the-fascinating-world-of-cymatics

References

Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation.

Koelsch, S. (2015). Music-evoked emotions: principles, brain correlates, and implications for therapy. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1337(1), 193–201.

Feldman, R. (2007). Parent–infant synchrony and the construction of shared timing; physiological precursors, developmental outcomes, and risk conditions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48(3-4), 329–354.