If you’ve ever walked into a sound bath and felt your whole body exhale before a single bowl was even struck, you’ve already experienced the power of frequencies. It’s one of those things that sounds a bit ‘out there’ until you feel it, and then suddenly it all makes complete sense.
Frequencies are everywhere. They’re in the hum of the earth beneath your feet, in the rhythm of your breath, in the music that makes you cry in the car. They’re also at the heart of everything I do, whether that’s a sound bath in Auckland, a Reiki session, or a breathwork journey.
In this article, I want to break down what frequencies actually are, how they affect the body and mind, and why understanding them can genuinely shift the way you approach your wellbeing. No physics degree required, I promise.
At their most basic, frequencies are the rate at which something vibrates, measured in hertz (Hz). Sound, light, brainwaves, and even the cells in your body all operate at specific frequencies. Everything is in motion, even when it looks completely still.
When we talk about healing frequencies, we’re referring to specific vibrational rates that have been studied for their potential to support the body’s natural ability to restore balance. Think of it like tuning a guitar. When a string is out of tune, the sound is off. When it’s in tune, everything resonates beautifully.
Your body works the same way. When certain systems or energy centres are ‘out of tune’, you might feel anxious, exhausted, disconnected, or stuck. Healing frequencies are one of the tools we can use to help bring things back into alignment.
Now, I’m not going to pretend this is all settled science, because honestly, it isn’t yet. But there is some really compelling research emerging around how sound frequencies interact with the nervous system, brainwaves, and cellular function.
Studies have shown that certain frequencies can shift brainwave states, moving us from the high-alert beta state into the more relaxed alpha or even theta states. That’s the same territory accessed during deep meditation, hypnosis, and some forms of breathwork. Research published via the National Institutes of Health has explored how sound and vibration influence physiological and psychological responses in meaningful ways.
For those who want a deeper dive into the energetic side of things, my article on Reiki Science: Understanding the Energy Behind Holistic Healing goes into more detail about how energy fields and frequencies connect in healing practice.
Your nervous system is constantly picking up and responding to frequencies in your environment. This is why being around certain people feels draining, while others leave you feeling energised. It’s why some music makes you want to dance and some makes you want to cry.
This isn’t just poetic, it’s physiological. The vagus nerve, which runs from your brainstem all the way through your body, is deeply responsive to sound and vibration. When the right frequencies land on or around the body, the vagus nerve can shift your system from sympathetic (fight or flight) to parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode.
That shift is where healing actually happens. It’s the window where your body can repair, process emotions, and restore balance. Frequencies, used intentionally, help open that window.
Different brainwave states are associated with different frequencies. Beta waves (14 to 30 Hz) are your everyday thinking mode, which is great for getting things done but not ideal for deep healing. Alpha waves (8 to 14 Hz) bring calm focus. Theta waves (4 to 8 Hz) are linked to creativity, intuition, and deep relaxation.
Delta waves (0.5 to 4 Hz) are associated with deep sleep and profound restoration. During a sound bath, many people drop into alpha or theta states naturally, which is why it can feel like you’ve had a full night’s sleep in 60 minutes.
Certain healing frequencies are specifically designed to encourage these shifts. The 432 Hz and 528 Hz tunings are popular in sound healing circles for their reported calming and restorative qualities. Whether or not you go all in on the science, most people simply feel the difference.
Sound baths are probably the most direct and accessible way to experience healing frequencies. When I play crystal or Tibetan singing bowls, each bowl produces a specific frequency that ripples through the air and, because your body is mostly water, through you as well.
This is called vibrational entrainment, where your body’s own frequencies begin to sync with the frequencies being produced around you. It’s similar to how pendulum clocks in the same room eventually synchronise their swings. Your nervous system is incredibly receptive to this kind of gentle, sustained input.
In a sound bath session here in Auckland, you’re not passive. Your body is actively responding to frequencies the whole time, even if you’re lying there feeling like you’re doing absolutely nothing. That’s kind of the magic of it.
Different instruments produce different frequencies, and I layer them intentionally. Gongs, crystal bowls, chimes, and drums each bring their own vibrational quality, creating a full-spectrum experience that works on multiple levels at once. It’s genuinely one of my favourite things to facilitate.
Reiki and breathwork are two more pathways for working with frequencies, just in slightly different ways. In Reiki, the practitioner acts as a channel for universal life force energy, which is itself a form of frequency. The intention is to support the body’s own energy field in releasing blockages and restoring flow.
Many people are surprised to find that Reiki can feel deeply physical, even though it’s energetic in nature. Some clients feel warmth, tingling, or a sense of heaviness lifting. Others drift into a dream-like state. These are all signs that the body is responding to a shift in its own frequencies.
If you’re curious about what Reiki can actually do for your wellbeing, I’ve written a whole piece on 5 Benefits of Reiki: How Energy Healing Can Transform Your Wellbeing that breaks it down in plain language.
Breathwork is one of the most underrated frequency tools available to us, and the best part is it’s completely free. When you consciously alter your breathing pattern, you directly influence your nervous system, your brainwave state, and the electromagnetic frequencies your heart produces.
The heart is actually the strongest electromagnetic field generator in the body, producing frequencies that extend well beyond the physical body. Breathwork, particularly techniques that emphasise a slow, rhythmic exhale, can shift the heart into what researchers call ‘coherence’, a state where its frequencies become more ordered and harmonious.
In a breathwork session with me, we use specific techniques to help you access deeper states of awareness, release stored tension, and reset your system. Many clients describe it as a whole-body reset, and from a frequency perspective, that’s exactly what it is.
Here’s something worth sitting with: you are already navigating a world full of frequencies every single day, most of them without realising it. The frequency of your own thoughts, the sounds in your environment, the energy of the people around you, even the food you eat and the screens you stare at, all of these carry a vibrational quality that influences how you feel.
This isn’t about becoming paranoid or wrapping yourself in tinfoil. It’s about becoming more conscious of the inputs your system is receiving. When you start paying attention, you realise there’s a lot you can shift without needing to do anything dramatic.
Nature is one of the most readily available sources of beneficial frequencies in Auckland. Getting your feet on the grass at Cornwall Park, sitting near the water at Mission Bay, or even having a plant-filled space at home can all support your body’s natural frequency balance. These things matter, and they’re free.
Music is another powerful one. Specifically curated playlists of 432 Hz or 528 Hz music are easy to find online and can support your nervous system during work, rest, or meditation. I often recommend these to clients between sessions as a simple way to maintain the benefits of their healing work.
For a broader look at how all of this fits into a holistic approach to wellbeing in Auckland, my guide on Energy Healing Auckland: Your Guide to Holistic Wellness and Natural Balance is a great starting point.
The bottom line is that working with frequencies doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Some of the most powerful shifts come from small, consistent choices to introduce more harmonious frequencies into your daily life.
Healing frequencies are specific vibrational rates, measured in hertz, that are used intentionally to support the body’s natural restorative processes. Research into areas like sound therapy and brainwave entrainment suggests they can genuinely influence the nervous system, though individual experiences vary. Most people find that working with frequencies, whether through sound baths, Reiki, or breathwork, produces a noticeable shift in how they feel.
Both are popular tunings in the sound healing world, each associated with different qualities. 432 Hz is often described as more grounding and naturally harmonious with the earth’s own resonance, while 528 Hz is sometimes called the ‘love frequency’ and is associated with cellular repair and emotional healing. In practice, I use a range of frequencies in my sessions because the body responds to the full spectrum, not just one note.
Absolutely, and honestly, some of my most sceptical clients have had the most profound experiences. Frequencies work on the nervous system and physical body regardless of your belief system. You don’t need to subscribe to any particular spiritual framework to feel the effects of a well-facilitated sound bath or breathwork session.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but most people notice cumulative benefits from regular sessions, whether that’s weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Between sessions, incorporating everyday practices like frequency-tuned music, time in nature, and conscious breathwork can help maintain the benefits. Think of it as an ongoing practice rather than a one-off treatment.
Sound baths, Reiki, and breathwork are generally considered very safe and gentle modalities. However, certain breathwork techniques may not be suitable for people with specific health conditions, including epilepsy, cardiovascular issues, or those who are pregnant. I always recommend having a conversation with me before your first session so we can tailor the experience to suit you safely.
Understanding frequencies doesn’t require a science background or a philosophy degree. It simply requires a willingness to pay attention to how you feel, and an openness to the idea that there might be more going on in and around your body than the eye can see.
Whether you’re drawn to the immersive experience of a sound bath, the gentle energetic work of Reiki, or the powerful self-regulation of breathwork, all of these modalities are working with frequencies in their own way. And all of them are available to you right here in Auckland.
If you’re ready to explore what healing frequencies can do for you, I’d love to have you in a session. Head to hollyneighbours.com to book or get in touch. Your nervous system will thank you.
Written by Holly Neighbours, Breathwork, Sound Bath and Reiki Practitioner based in Auckland, New Zealand.
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