For Tommy Dill, founder of Soundularity, it started with a singing bowl. A professional musician working in LA doing music for TV and advertising, Dill was looking for an outlet for stress and a modicum for healing. He started playing bowls and other simple instruments for the pleasure and power of the sound. Years later, after finding his way to Denver, he now offers sound journeys as his full-time gig.
These journeys range in time and content but the goal is to take participants on a trip. Using a 432 hertz tuning system, attendees are surrounded by rich lush frequencies—harps, synthesizers and guitars, but also rattles, rain sticks and the enchanting hand pan.
The sounds elicit different emotions and invite everyone to travel inward to see what’s there. Dill sets a sign in front of his instruments during journeys that says: Eyes closed, heart open.
Pavanjeet Nikola, another local treasure, offers many sound bath opportunities in the Boulder area. His main instruments are gongs of all different sizes. Pavanjeet offers the following about sound therapy:
“Sound baths are adult naptime but better! They’re a deep cleanse without soap and water. Instead, we use vibration to re-tune the body and mind to peak performance. In the process, we can shed nagging thoughts, stuck emotions and old stress.
Our bodies intuitively know how to heal from stress, loss and disease but we need time in rest. The powerful sound of the gongs helps to quiet the mind and relax the body. Gongs are one of humanity’s oldest musical instruments and the sound invokes a primal knowing.”
There are no prerequisites for attending a sound bath. No experience with yoga, meditation or even mindfulness is needed. Each of his sound baths starts with stretching and deep breathing to prepare everyone to lie down. Then all one needs to do is relax. If you’re not great at relaxing, the vibrations of the gongs will help.
These are great experiences to share with a friend, the spaces are lovely and the feeling after is one of grounded floating.
You can find these upcoming yoga, breath-work and gong events with Pavanjeet at Pavanjeet.com/Events:
New Moon Rebirthing & Quadruple Gong
Saturday, June 8, 1:00 PM & 3:30 PM
Starhouse
Summer Solstice Meditation & Gong
Thursday, June 20, 6:45 PM-9:15 PM
Starhouse
Kundalini Weekend Retreat at Starhouse
July 6 & July 7
Starhouse
Full Moon Meditation & Gong
Sunday, August 18, 6:15 PM-8:00 PM
Starhouse
And for Tommy at TommyDill.com/Soundularity:
Soundularity 360 Musical Sound Journey
June 13th, 6:30 PM-9:00 PM
Starhouse
Breath Work for Young People:
Life can be stressful and growing up requires a lot of flexibility!
Events such as starting a new school year, taking a major math test, going through body changes or getting into an argument with a friend or parent can often feel overwhelming for young people. Social media can cause even more strain; fueling unrealistic expectations and allowing peer pressure to follow kids everywhere. Stress can make our hearts race, muscles tense and tie our tummies in knots.
Luckily, deep breathing can help us relax and get back to ourselves.
The following breathing exercises are easy to use in everyday life and help ground us in the moment. You can find a quiet place to sit and try these:
Belly Breathing
Put your hands on your belly, and inhale slowly and deeply for four seconds.
You should feel your stomach moving out as you suck in the air. If your breath is still in your chest, it’s too shallow.
Hold the breath for seven seconds, then slowly release it over eight seconds.
If that feels too hard, try this one:
Smell the Rose, Blow Out the Candle
Picture yourself holding a rose in one hand and a candle in the other. Take a big breath in through your nose to smell the sweet scent of the rose. Next, slowly blow through your mouth to put out the candle.