Sound Bath on a Full Moon on 9/25/26 at Pulsation Yoga in Mount Prospect, IL
7:00 pm event at $45.00
Out here the evening still gets genuinely dark and genuinely quiet. On the full moon of September 25, 26 we'll put that to use: a beautiful studio in Mount Prospect, IL, mats down, lights low, and ninety minutes of live sound in a room already built for stillness.
That's the invitation.
You'll come in the evening and get comfortable on your back with the lights low. We start with a short guided meditation — five or ten minutes, long enough to lengthen the breath and loosen the thinking mind's grip. That's the threshold. Then the instruments come in.
Marian Kraus of Higher Frequency Living plays live on large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, chimes, drums, jaw-harp, and voice. Each one has its own character, and underneath they all do a single thing: they sustain.
A tone gets going and keeps generating more tone above itself, on and on, with no tune to trace and no beat to expect. Layered together, they fill the room corner to corner. The sound comes from every direction and has no edges — less like listening to music, more like floating in warm water. There's nothing to follow; you simply rest inside it The mind goes looking for something to hold, finds nothing, and after a while stops looking.
That's where it gets interesting, and it goes two ways at once.
One way is down. Whatever you walked in carrying gets quieter. Breath slows, shoulders drop, the inner narration thins to almost nothing. Some people fall into a rest deeper than a full night's sleep. Some come up against a feeling they'd been carrying without knowing it.
The other way is up. Sound is vibration, and so are you, all the way down to the cell. A sustained tone doesn't only calm a nervous system, it wakes one. People routinely sit up at the end brighter and more present than when they lay down, with an energy that owes nothing to caffeine or willpower. Not knocked out but rather cleared out.
Nothing is required of you here, and there's no version of it you can do wrong. You lie down. The sound does the rest.
Pulsation Yoga holds about 30 people for this evening, and these gatherings fill. Reserve your spot at Pulsation Yoga’s awesome and unique studio, and boost your vibrational frequency during this powerful opportunity to recharge.
About Higher Frequency Living Sound Baths
A sound bath is a meditation you do lying down. No water, no swimsuit, nothing to chant, no posture to hold. You come in, get comfortable, and listen while instruments are played live around the room.
I'm Marian Kraus. Since 2011 I've been leading these evenings in yoga studios, wellness centers, and holistic spaces across the Chicago area. On a given night I might play large titanium and bronze gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, shruti box, drums, chimes, jaw harp, monochord, and voice. The room and the group determines which.
How an evening goes
The shape is always the same. We open with a short guided meditation — five to ten minutes, long enough to slow the breath and let the day fall away. Then the instruments begin, and they don't stop. Most evenings run about 90 minutes, beginning to end.
What these instruments share is that their sound keeps going. A gong struck once produces overtones long after the mallet has left it. A monochord does the same. There's no verse, no chorus, nothing to count. Attention goes looking for something to follow, doesn't find it, and eventually stops looking. That's the doorway.
What people describe afterward
Usually two things, often in the same evening.
One is unloading. The breath slows, the jaw lets go, the internal commentary gets quieter and then intermittent. Many people slip into the hypnagogic state — that threshold between waking and sleeping where thinking loosens and images arrive on their own. We all pass through it briefly every night; here it can stay open long enough to notice.
The other is closer to being switched on. Sustained vibration doesn't only settle a nervous system, it stirs one. It's common to sit up at the end more alert and less cluttered than when you arrived, without having done anything to earn it.
What the research shows
Early, small-scale, and encouraging. A 2017 observational study reported less tension, anger, and fatigue after a single singing-bowl session. A 2023 randomized trial found reduced anxiety and improved heart rate variability after one session compared with control conditions, and a 2025 randomized trial of a four-week daily sound meditation program reported lower anxiety and lower salivary cortisol. Worth knowing — and worth saying plainly: this is rest and restoration, not medical treatment.
Questions people ask
What actually happens at a sound bath?
You lie down on a mat, fully clothed, and stay there. The evening opens with a brief guided meditation and then moves into roughly an hour of unbroken live sound — gongs, singing bowls, handpan, didgeridoo, and others played around the room. Nothing is asked of you. No chanting, no movement, no technique.
Do I need meditation experience?
None. This is one of the few contemplative practices that asks nothing of a first-timer, and there's no way to do it incorrectly. People who've given up on seated meditation often do well here, because the sound carries your attention instead of asking you to carry it.
What should I wear and bring?
Loose layers and socks. An hour of lying still drops your body temperature more than you'd expect, so bring more warmth than seems necessary. Mats and blankets are usually provided by the venue. A pillow, bolster, eye mask, or water bottle are all welcome. Arrive 10–15 minutes early so you're settled before we begin, and eat something light beforehand rather than a full meal.
What if I fall asleep?
Common, and completely fine. Dozing off doesn't mean you missed anything — the sound goes on reaching you, and the people who sleep often report the deepest rest in the room. Nothing here requires you to stay awake or keep track of the experience.
Is there anyone who shouldn't attend?
Sound baths are gentle, but the volume is sustained and at times full. Let me know beforehand if you're pregnant, have a pacemaker, a seizure disorder, significant tinnitus or sound sensitivity, or a sensitivity to essential oils or incense — I use them at some events, not all — and I'll place you further from the instruments. If you have a health condition you're uncertain about, check with your physician first.
More questions answered on the full FAQ page →
First time?
Whether you've been meditating for years or are new to sound healing, you're welcome exactly as you are. Newcomers and longtime meditators end up on mats side by side here, and both belong. If you'd like to go deeper beforehand, you can read about vibration, explore the field of Cymatics, or watch gong and sound meditation videos on the movies page.
Higher Frequency Living sound baths are open to everyone. Upcoming dates and venues are on the schedule.
Or come one-on-one
I also work with individuals privately, combining sound with focused conversation drawn from the principles of TED* (The Empowerment Dynamic) and Dr. David Hawkins' Map of Consciousness. That's the better fit when you're moving through a specific transition, weighing a decision, or stuck somewhere — rather than looking for an evening of rest and renewal. Private sessions are held in Warrenville, IL. Read more here.