Why Singing Bowls?

I've noticed these bowls on the alters of many yoga studios. They are sometimes used to bring the class to a start and/or to a close. But why are they used? How can I bring them into my yoga studio? 

I asked these things to the Tibetan man working behind the counter at the Tibetan Shop in Uptown. 

He showed me how to hold it and use it to make it sing! The vibration was enchanting.

Below is an abbreviated history of these ancient bowls. -t

    The vibration of the bowl produces a distinct sound in the much the same way that a crystal goblet would if you ran a wet finger around the glass.  The pitch depends on the size of the bowl and the thickness of the metal.  Bowls typically range in size from five inches to thirteen inches in diameter.  You can increase or decrease the sounds by rotating the mallet around the outside of the bowl faster. 

The singing quality is an important part of the Tibetan Singing Bowl's history.  In Buddhism, and in Hinduism, sound is an important part of spiritual practice.  In the Buddhist doctrine, there are nine methods of realization of reaching enlightenment.  The seventh way was sound.  For this reason, the sound produced by the bowl was used by Buddhist practitioners as part of their religious rituals and music. 

    The sound made by the bowls is both captivating and calming, and the bowls are frequently used as a meditation aid.  One reason for this is that the sound emitted by the bowls seems to instantly instill a sense of trance-like calm.  The Tibetan Singing Bowls were also used during meditation practice to reinforce one of the most important concepts of Buddhism, that of being "mindful", of staying in the present moment. 

    The person in charge of the meditation would occasionally strike the bowl on the side during the meditation, producing a bell-like tone capable of filling a temple.  The sound would act as a reminder to those meditating to remain mindful and in fact, it probably helped practitioners stay awake and not drift off to sleep during longer meditation sessions!  Sound and vibrations are also associated with wellness.  Some methods of alternative medicine associate good health with a person being "in balance".  The sound made by Tibetan Singing Bowls may be used in certain alternative therapies to create vibrations thought to help bring harmony to a person who is not in balance.  There is some scientific basis to this theory.  It is thought that the tones produced by Tibetan Singing Bowls affects left brain/right brain synchronization, which would create a balancing effect.