FAQs

What is a Sound Bath?: A Sound Bath is a deeply-immersive, full-body listening meditative experience that intentionally uses sound to invite gentle yet powerful therapeutic and restorative processes to nurture those in attendance. They are “bathed” in sound waves. These waves are produced by various sources, including healing instruments such as gongs, singing bowls, percussion, chimes, rattles, tuning forks, and even the human voice itself.

Sound Bath Benefits: The general intention of a sound bath is to create a state of harmony in the listener by using sound to clear discordance from the participants' energy fields. Among the benefits are relaxation, an increased sense of wellbeing, expanded awareness, and access to inner visionary experience. A sound bath uses frequencies and vibration to unblock stagnate energy.

What a Sound Bath is like?: The experience begins with each person lying down in a comfortable position, often with a blanket and pillow in a peaceful low lit environment. After a few minutes of guided focus on the breath, the remainder of the experience is filled with different sounds and frequencies being introduced in succession. The sounds are created by a variety of overtone-emitting instruments including tuning forks, gongs, Brass Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, chimes, and voice. 

When you sink into a Sound Bath and guide your awareness to your listening, you allow your brain waves to slow, shifting from a more active state to a more relaxed state, or even a dreamlike state.

The sounds introduced during a Sound Bath are an invitation into a deeper state of consciousness, an opportunity to unplug from external stimuli and to gain perspective on what’s going on within you. The goal of the experience is to invite deep rest and relaxation, and explore self-inquiry and self-discovery.

How did you become a Soundbath Therapist?: Based on over a decade of study in meditation, alternative healing medicines, herbalism and a lifetime of experience in music and art, I have created a uniquely approachable method of sound therapy. Facilitating Sound Baths combines my experience as an artist and survivor of trauma, my diverse studies in complementary and alternative medicine practices, and my belief that deep listening allows us to access improved focus, expansive creativity, and greater human connection.

What Should I bring?: A large bag filled with a yoga mat, blanket + pillow. A sleep mask is optional but great to have. Dress comfortably. The duration of a sound bath can last 60-120 minutes.

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What is Cacao?: Cacao was first used as a health elixir and ceremonial medicine as far back as 1900 BC by the ancestors of Central America, the Olmec people, before becoming a ritualistic plant medicine used by the Aztec and Mayan cultures. Signifying both life and fertility, it was ingested by Royalty in ceremonial God worship and in sacrificial ritual. With over 1200 chemical constituents, the beans from Theobroma Cacao (translating from the greek: theo = god and broma = food and cacao = the mayan name for the chocolate beans) – or the chocolate tree, appear to be the most pharmacologically complex food in nature. Cacao has been used for millennia as a food and antidote to a vast array of health issues. It has also been used ceremonially by the ancient Meso-americans in conjunction with other plants and rituals.

What is a Cacao Ceremony?: A cacao ceremony is an opportunity to connect to yourself and open your heart. Because of cacao’s ability to increase your connection to your inner self and your heart chakra, it aids in any transformational shift you are working towards, whether you are looking to deepen your understanding of who you are, release old patterns and traumas, or move into a more self-confident space. Whatever your path, the intention is yours to set, and the cacao allows you to the insight and awareness to move towards that goal. It is a type of shamanic healing, but it doesn't have hallucinogenic or “out of body” effects, unlike some other shamanic experiences. A cacao ceremony will often end in dance, which allows the cacao to activate within the heart and body, and create transformation.

What is the immediate physiological effect of Cacao?: One of the main active ingredients that we experience in our physiology during ceremony is Theobromine. Theo-broma literally translates as God-Food, and potentiates the release of dopamine, the ‘pleasure’ hormone. This, alongside phenethylamine, which is known to help relieve stress and depression and which is released in the body during emotional euphoria, create heightened sensation and empathy. Alongside these, the high amount of nutrients in the cacao support and nourish the body, whilst also inducing a detoxifying effect on the liver and kidneys.

What is the emotional impact of Cacao?: Due to the euphoria inducing ingredients, the emotional impact can be profound. Everything feels heightened within the physical and emotional body, including your awareness to your deepest sense of self and to your heart. The experience of love and empathy, particularly for yourself, can literally feel as if your heart is opening like a flower. With this, the body can become flooded with the many emotions stored in the heart, some of which can be painful. It is not always an easy experience, and I have seen many tears shed as people peel away old layers of hurt. But as the cacao facilitates a deep sense of self-love, tears are always followed by smiles of deep gratitude. In other moments, the sheer ecstasy felt from the cacao can be described as nothing other than a divine experience.