Tech workers in San Francisco are turning to meditative 'sound baths' to unplug - here's what it's like

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

I tried a "sound bath" meditation to see why it's all the rage in San Francisco.

In San Francisco, seas of people staring down at their phones are as much a fixture of the city as trolley cars and fog. But a few nights out of the year, 1,300 people put away their digital devices and sprawl across the floor of Grace Cathedral church for a meditative "sound bath."

The crowd lies on yoga mats and blankets, as a small orchestra of instruments - gongs, crystal bowls, a harp, and a didgeridoo - provides a 90-minute soundtrack for meditation. The idea is that the sounds give participants something to focus on, allowing any racing thoughts to peter out. Sound Meditation SF has organized six events in the city since 2016, and each sold out.

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I recently attended a Sound Healing Symphony, organized by Sound Meditation SF, to see what the buzz is about. Here's what it was like.