I am an extroverted introvert. Content to be alone, comfortable in stillness, not particularly adept at small talk - but willing and able to step into the spotlight for the right cause or character. Fifteen years ago, many people described me as intimidating, aloof, or unapproachable. The thing is -that could not have been further from the truth, and it impacted the way I felt about myself. I wanted to learn how to soften my edges to connect with people on a deeper, more meaningful level.  Something needed to change. But how?

I decided to look at the whole picture - the way people perceived me and how I felt about myself. I embarked on a multi-faceted journey of self-reflection and attended my first yoga class in 2010.  Yoga taught me to stretch, relax, and breathe, but more importantly, it helped me at a time in my life when I needed to process significant personal loss. Yoga got me through that and so much more. The yoga community is welcoming and nurturing. You are given the space to be who you are and figure out where you want to go. 

While the descriptors people had been using for me were hurtful, I realized that they were not necessarily untrue through yoga. I gained the tools to evolve and be in space intentionally and thoughtfully, which has allowed me to change and grow. Yoga helped me understand myself more clearly and release the things that were no longer serving me. I could drop the shield that protected me from fear and disappointment. I could choose to be present in the moment and engage in life with intention. I decided to consciously connect with people - to listen deeply, react thoughtfully, and spend time in nature - unplugged from the noise of everyday living.

As part of my journey of self-discovery, I completed my Yoga Teacher Training in 2019. Graduation was pivotal, but my life transformed when I attended my first Sound Meditation. Music has always been my pathway to self-expression. Think of your own life - how music is woven into your memories of special moments and how a particular song or sound can transport you back to a specific place and time. It is well known that sound directly affects our mood. At that first Sound Meditation, sound and vibrations from the singing bowls washed over me and brought a profound sense of calm, followed by a big emotional release.  As I lay on the mat with tears rolling down my face, I knew that this was the path to my connection - Sound. I am a trained opera singer, music educator, and vocal coach (Miami University, 1980, BFA - Performance and Music Education), so music is essential to my being. I immediately set out to find training to understand what I had just experienced.

Now, I help other women like me - who may feel overwhelmed by and perhaps disconnected from everyday life. I offer private and group Sound Events that quiet the noise to allow space for relaxation. Life is busy and loud - we all need time to chill and restore. Sure, there is science behind the healing. The vibrations of the bowls put you in a meditative state that reduces stress and anxiety and relieves muscle tension. Ongoing scientific studies have shown Sound Meditation can help with headaches and chronic pain and improve your focus. But, I like to think more about the enchantment. Picture yourself reclining - surrounded by beautiful singing bowls. You feel the vibrations as sound wafts all around you. You will smell fresh flowers or scented oils. Stress melts away, and you can experience quiet and stillness. You have nothing to do and nowhere to go. You just lay there as the bowls work their magic. The session unfolds as I tune in to my intuition to offer a unique sound experience that brings you peace and calm.

I think back to my first Sound Meditation and its transformative impact. I can’t promise that everyone will experience that intensity, but many do. People use descriptive words like peaceful, relaxing, deeply satisfying, zen-like, and spiritual. 

I am grateful and honored to offer this practice to you. It has joined two essential aspects of my being -  yoga, and music. I have come a long way - from a woman perceived as ‘intimidating’ to one that people seek out to find comfort and stillness in this busy, noisy world.