10 Minute Singing Bowl Session With One Bowl - Minute by Minute
With one bowl and ten minutes you can do a complete session: one minute to settle, four minutes of single strikes, three minutes of making the bowl sing on the rim, and two minutes to close and sit in silence. You need one bowl, its mallet, its cushion and a quiet place to sit.
Key takeaways
- One bowl is enough for a full ten minute session.
- Strike softly and let every sound fade before the next one.
- The silence between strikes and at the end is part of the practice.
- Every day for ten minutes works better than one long session now and then.
What do you need for a 10 minute session?
- One singing bowl, small or medium, that you can hold comfortably.
- Its mallet, which comes with every bowl we send.
- Its cushion, for when you do not want to hold the bowl.
- A timer, set to ten minutes with a gentle sound.
- A quiet seat, on a chair or on the floor, with your back straight.
If you do not have a bowl yet, our beginner and gift singing bowls are hand-cast bowls chosen as first bowls.
What is the session, minute by minute?
| Minute | Step | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | Settle | Sit, rest the bowl on your open palm or its cushion, and take three slow breaths. |
| 1 to 2 | Three opening strikes | Strike softly three times, letting each sound fade fully before the next. |
| 2 to 5 | Strike and follow | Strike once, follow the sound with your attention until it is gone, then strike again. |
| 5 to 8 | Sing the rim | Rub the mallet slowly around the outside of the rim so the bowl gives one long sound. |
| 8 to 9 | Three closing strikes | Strike three times, each one softer than the last. |
| 9 to 10 | Silence | Put the mallet down and sit quietly for one full minute. |
Keep the same order each day. After a week you will not need to look at the table, and the session will run on its own.
How do you strike the bowl?
Hold the mallet loosely and tap the outside wall just below the rim. A soft tap gives a longer, rounder sound than a hard hit.
Rest the bowl on an open palm. Fingers curled around the wall stop the sound, which is the most common reason a bowl seems dull.
Our page on how to play a singing bowl shows both ways of playing, and the course lesson on how to play a singing bowl goes further.
How do you make the bowl sing on the rim?
- Start with a tap, so the bowl is already sounding.
- Press the mallet against the outside of the rim, upright, with steady pressure.
- Circle slowly, moving your whole arm and not only your wrist.
- Slow down if the bowl rattles, because rattling means you are going too fast.
If the bowl will not sing today, keep striking instead. A session of soft strikes is a complete session.
Need a first bowl for this session?
See our hand-cast beginner and gift bowls. A mallet and cushion come with every bowl, and Sunita chooses your bowl after the order arrives.
Where do you put your attention?
On the sound. Follow each strike from its start to the moment you can no longer hear it, and notice the silence that comes after.
When your mind wanders, the next strike brings it back. This is how a bowl supports an attentive state, and our guide to meditation with a singing bowl explains more.
Which bowl suits a 10 minute session?
| If you want | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first bowl or a gift | Chakra painted hand-cast singing bowl | Hand-cast, easy to play, in several sizes |
| A first bowl with a design | Buddha etched 8 inch hand-cast bowl | A steady size that sits well on its cushion |
| A bowl to hold in the hand | Palm size singing bowl | Small and light for a desk or travel |
| A bowl chosen for sitting practice | Meditation singing bowls | 5 to 12 inch, C note, Root |
| A bowl made your way | Custom singing bowl | You choose size and finish, ask for the note, and add free engraving |
Whichever you choose, the bowl is selected after your order arrives. It leaves Kathmandu in 3-4 business days by DHL Express.
What are the common mistakes in a short session?
- Striking too hard: a hard hit is loud and short, and a soft tap rings longer.
- Rushing: striking again before the last sound has faded.
- Gripping the bowl: holding the wall with your fingers and stopping the sound.
- Skipping the silence: getting up at minute nine and losing the best part.
- Waiting for a free hour: putting it off until you have more time, when ten minutes is enough.
What should you do after the first week?
- Keep the time: play at the same time each day so it becomes a habit.
- Follow a plan: the 30 day singing bowl routine calendar gives one small step a day.
- Go a little further: read how to start with singing bowls at home.
- Learn properly: take the free singing bowl healing course, which starts from one bowl.
A bowl supports relaxation and an attentive state. It is not a substitute for medical care.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do with one singing bowl in ten minutes?
A full short session: one minute to settle, a few minutes of single strikes, a few minutes of making the bowl sing on the rim, and a minute of silence to finish.
How do I use a meditation bowl?
Rest the bowl on your open palm or its cushion, strike it softly once, and follow the sound with your attention until it fades. Repeat, and end with a minute of silence.
Is one singing bowl enough for meditation?
Yes. One bowl is enough for a daily session, and many people never use more than one.
Which singing bowl is best for a 10 minute session?
A small or medium bowl that is easy to hold and easy to play. A hand-cast bowl is a good first bowl for this, and our Meditation category suggests a C note.
Should I strike the bowl or rub the rim?
Do both. Striking gives a clear start to each breath of attention, and rubbing the rim gives one long, steady sound to rest on.
Can I do this session every day?
Yes. Ten minutes a day at the same time is an easy habit to keep, and a short daily session is better than a long one once a month.
What if my bowl will not sing on the rim?
Keep striking instead. Singing on the rim takes practice, and a session of soft strikes is a complete session.
Want a bowl chosen for sitting practice?
See our meditation singing bowls, 5 to 12 inch in the C note. A mallet and cushion come with every bowl, and engraving is free.
