Review: Virgin Active’s new Breathwork X Sound Bath class felt like a spa sesh for my mind

I’ll admit it: if you asked me to choose between a gym session and a sound bath class after work, I’d probably pick the workout. Not because I don’t enjoy sound baths – I’ve attended Virgin Active’s Sound Bath classes a few times, and I know how restorative they can be. But somehow, they never feel quite as “necessary” as a workout does. Lifting weights feels productive. Going for a run feels productive. Lying still while someone plays crystal singing bowls? That’s somehow harder to justify making time for.

Ironically, it’s usually after a Sound Bath that I’m reminded why it’s worth carving out time for it. Virgin Active’s new Breathwork X Sound Bath class builds on what I already enjoyed about the original, but with one key difference: starting the class with guided breath work (instead of going straight into the stillness of a sound bath) made it easier for my mind to transition into calm.

The missing bridge between “busy” and “still”

I’ve always enjoyed Virgin Active’s original Sound Bath class, but there were times when an entire hour of lying still felt slightly too ambitious. The class is designed to be quite passive. You walk into the room, settle onto your mat with a blanket, and simply… be. It’s not unusual to hear snoring as people doze off!

While it’s great for a guilt-free nap (it’s probably the only class where napping isn’t discouraged), I always felt I got the most out of the class when I stayed awake. For me, it’s about practising something I rarely do in everyday life: simply lying still with my thoughts and not doing anything about them. The problem is that it’s much easier said than done.

That’s where Breathwork X Sound Bath class feels different. With the first half of the class dedicated to guided breath work, it felt a tad more engaging. This portion of the class focuses on intentional breathing and body awareness, and it felt similar to a guided meditation with a dose of light stretching.

I liked how this gave my mind something gentle to focus on first, rather than asking my brain to immediately switch off after a busy day. By the time the sound bath began, my mind had already been eased into a slower rhythm, which meant that I didn’t need to put in as much effort to force it to be still.

You don’t have to believe in chakras to enjoy it

The second half of the class transitions into a sound bath experience. Here, the resonant tones of crystal singing bowls fill the room, and the different frequencies are believed to correspond to different chakras of the body.

But I’m happy to report that you don’t necessarily have to buy into the more esoteric explanations to enjoy what the class has to offer. Personally, I simply appreciate the calming sounds (the vibrational frequencies are said to have stress reduction benefits!), and I like how the experience leaves me with little choice but to slow down and be present.

Could I simply listen to crystal bowl recordings at home? Yes. It’s just that when I’m at home, it’s all too easy to tell myself I’ll do it later, only to end up scrolling on my phone instead. Booking a class creates a dedicated hour where slowing down becomes the only thing on my agenda.

A spa sesh for your mind

I’d describe this class as a form of active rest. You’re resting, but you’re also participating. And starting with breath work and stretching made for a gentler transition into the sound bath portion where it was easier to sink into stillness (for both my mind and body).

If I had to describe the Breathwork X Sound Bath class in one sentence, it’d be this: it’s like a spa session for your mind. It’s one of those things that I didn’t know I needed until I did it.

Who should try a Breathwork X Sound Bath class

Would I recommend it? Yes, but it might not be for everyone right away. If you’re someone who prefers high-energy workouts and struggles to sit still, it might take a session or two before it clicks. But if you’re aiming to live more intentionally, or have been curious about recovery-led wellness and meditative practices, this class feels like an accessible place to begin.

I’ve realised that rest doesn’t always have to mean doing absolutely nothing. Sometimes, it simply means giving your mind something gentler to do. And this Breathwork X Sound Bath class feels like the perfect way to do just that – because, as it turns out, doomscrolling doesn’t count (much to my dismay).

Virgin Active Breathwork X Sound Bath class, available at Marina One, Tanjong Pagar, Raffles Place, Holland Village, and Paya Lebar