News Packages | June 19, 2026
Finding Peace in the Noise: Why more Central New Yorkers are turning to Sound Baths
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — In a darkened room filled with the soft hum of crystal singing bowls, participants settle onto yoga mats, close their eyes and take a deep breath.
For the next hour, there are no emails to answer, deadlines to meet or notifications to check. Instead, the focus is on listening.
Sound baths, a wellness practice that uses instruments such as singing bowls, gongs and chimes to create immersive sound experiences, have become increasingly popular among people looking for ways to manage stress and carve out time for self-care. In Central New York, practitioners like Kaitlynm Tassone are introducing more residents to the practice as interest in mindfulness and wellness continues to grow.
"The sounds take you on a sound journey and puts you in a relaxed state where you’re able to heal," Tassone said. "You oftentimes feel the vibrations throughout your entire body. And a lot of people are starting to realize the body keeps score."
Unlike traditional therapy sessions, sound baths do not involve conversation or treatment. Participants typically lie down or sit comfortably while listening to a series of sounds and vibrations designed to encourage relaxation and focused attention.
Many attendees say the appeal is simple: It gives them a chance to slow down.
"I would explain it as this is something immersive, it’s intimate," said class participant Brittany Pederson. "There’s no distractions. There’s nothing to take your focus away from it."
The practice arrives at a time when many Americans report feeling increasingly stressed and overwhelmed. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, meditation and mindfulness practices have grown significantly in popularity over the past two decades as people seek additional ways to support their overall well-being.
Mental health professionals say experiences that encourage mindfulness can play an important role in helping people manage everyday stress.
"But even in mental health, a lot of our theoretical orientations wrap around mindfulness," said Katherine Hyatt, a licensed mental health counselor and founder of Branches of Growth Mental Health Counseling and Yoga Studio. "So dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, a lot of treatments for mental health issues is wrapped around mindfulness."
Hyatt emphasized that wellness practices like sound baths are not replacements for professional mental health care when it is needed. Instead, she views them as one tool that some people use alongside other healthy habits.
"We just have to know and create that practice within our life of just pause for a moment, notice what’s happening around us, and within us," said Hyatt.
Tassone's own journey into sound facilitation began years ago through her work as an artist and entrepreneur. After traveling across the country creating immersive art and wellness experiences, she returned to Syracuse to build a space where people could gather, reflect and recharge.
While the instruments and techniques may be unfamiliar to some, she believes the reason people attend is universal.
"People are seeking different experiences where it’s like, 'How can I feel more?'" Tassone said. "'How can I feel better?' And, 'How can my mental health be good?'"
As the final notes of a singing bowl fade and participants begin rolling up their mats, the room slowly comes back to life. Conversations resume, phones are checked and daily routines continue.
But for many who attend, the hour spent immersed in sound offers something increasingly difficult to find: A moment of stillness in a noisy world.