We have established that in this magazine we are interested in meditation and its mental, psychological and emotional benefits. As part of that search, I once read an interview with an expert who said something like: “If traditional meditation is taking the stairs, then a soundbath is like taking the elevator.” Curious to know what exactly a soundbath is like and what makes it such an elevated experience, I started reading about sound therapy. I started by understanding that they have nothing to do with water baths, and that their basis is a very ancient healing technique that uses different instruments to generate sounds that in turn can help us calibrate our vibratory frequencies.
One session, according to the internet, could lead to a more balanced nervous system, enhance the immune system, improve mental functioning, accelerate tissue repair, and other benefits that border on the miraculous. There are, of course, soundbath videos on YouTube, where the person leading the session sits with some bowls, bells and gongs around them and invites people to lie back, close their eyes and relax. The purpose? Achieve a deep meditative state with the help of different sounds.
With the desire to know first-hand how a soundbath works , what sound therapy entails and what its achievable benefits are, we spoke with Luna Rukmini Devi Reiki certification, meditation instructor and sound healer , who lives in Los Angeles, California. And in the process of putting together this interview, mandatory quarantine was declared in several communes in Chile, so we asked Luna to also tell us how we can receive the benefits of sound healing at this time when we are almost exclusively at home.
Tell us about yourself and how you came to the world of sound therapy and meditation.
I was born and raised in Chile but I have lived abroad for 12 years. I have been in Los Angeles, California for almost 9 years and it was here where I discovered the world of sound therapy. When I first came here I started studying marketing at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) since I felt the need to expand in that area. That led me to develop in the digital world, working in some of the largest advertising agencies in the world. But my job became increasingly stressful and I began to feel very overwhelmed. At that time I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that surely had to do with the intensity of my work life and that was when I woke up and decided to make a change. I started taking meditation courses, I quit my job, I went to India and everything changed.
A while later I was invited to a corporate event and there was a couple offering sound therapy. I tried it there for the first time and I was fascinated! Soon I started going to group sessions and began to feel the positive effect it had not only on me but also on everyone who came with me. The person who did those sessions announced that he was going to do a training in sound therapy and without thinking I signed up immediately. It was like a very clear call and it changed my life. From there I began to get more and more into the subject, I continue going to India every year to study more and now it is what I dedicate myself 100% to.
My birth name is Maria Jose Goycoolea but a couple of years ago I received the name Luna, which represents my strong connection with the moon, and my desire to always shine among those who are experiencing moments of darkness. Then in November last year, on one of my trips to India, spiritual teacher and guru Baba Shyam Sundar Das bestowed upon me the spiritual name of Rukmini Devi. “Rukmini” was the first wife of the Hindu god Krishna and means “decorated with gold.” Devi means “goddess” in Sanskrit.
How do you define sonotherapy?
Sound therapy is a very ancient healing technique, which exists in several cultures, and which uses different instruments to generate sounds and vibrations that penetrate our body and help us calibrate our vibratory frequencies.
Sounds and vibrations are much more than a form of communication. They are real and powerful forces that can help heal and directly affect our well-being. Everything that contains matter is in a state of vibration, both our body (bones, organs, cells, etc.), and our energy field. It is important to keep ourselves at a harmonious frequency and under a healthy vibrational ratio. When we are unable to resonate with a part of our environment, our frequency becomes “out of tune,” making us more likely to create physical illness or stress, anxiety, etc. Through sound therapy we can reestablish harmony and peace in both the physical and energetic, emotional and mental bodies.
Walk us through what the soundbath experience is like from start to finish.
A soundbath is a high-vibration, acoustic sound bath. It is experienced as a kind of journey towards a deep state of relaxation, meditation and personal connection.
People simply lie on their back on a yoga mat, with their eyes closed. At first I guide them with a meditation to enter a state of greater connection and relaxation and once we are all on the same page I begin to play the instruments. All sessions are different and the sounds depend a lot on the people who are present in the room as well as the intention with which they are played and the energy of the group.
The instruments I use include gongs, singing bowls, crystal singing bowls, tuning forks, crystal pyramids, bells, drums, water sticks, rattles, and more. The sounds come from different angles of the room and at specific frequencies and tones that generate different sensations in people’s bodies.
Group sessions ( soundbaths ) can last between 45 minutes to an hour and a half. To finish, I am slowly waking people up, helping them return to a conscious state and inviting them to share their experience with the group. Many times there are people who cry and let go of many emotions and generally everyone comes out very relaxed, connected and grateful. It is a very nice experience!
What concerns do people who resort to a sound therapy session usually come with?
Most of us are looking for an alternative way to cope with the stress and madness that many of us are constantly exposed to. We are at a time when people need to look for more natural alternatives to feel at peace. There is already less and less interest in medical pills and traditional therapies: people are waking up and taking action instead of doing what they tell you to do. Sound therapy has proven to be effective and that is why it is becoming increasingly popular.
In your work, what do you see as the most obvious benefits of sound healing ?
The truth is that I have seen everything. I have seen how people who participate in recurring sessions have experienced profound changes in their lives. It’s as if they reset and start from scratch! There are many who come to release stress and tension, others who are overcoming grief or the loss of someone.
There are also those who feel more alone and come to connect with conscious people. There is everything, but some of the most common benefits include:
– Reduces stress and anxiety and promotes inner calm.
– Improves blood circulation and strengthens the nervous system.
– Helps dissolve negative emotions and improve mood.
– Eliminates insomnia and highly improves sleep quality.
– Increases energy, vitality, creativity, inspiration and intuition.
– Balances the energy centers (chakras).
– Helps connect us with our inner being, facilitating decision making and the development of personal knowledge.
What type of person would benefit from a sound healing session ? Who do you recommend it to?
To all! I sincerely believe that it is something that we should all experience in the most recurring way possible. In my sessions I receive older adults, young people, boys, girls, cancer patients, pregnant women, high-level professionals, etc. There is no discrimination.
Many of us live a stressful life; that work, home, children, bills, etc. And it is very important that we release that stress and give ourselves spaces to connect with ourselves. The same for pregnant women: it is key for the development of the baby that the mother is in healthy conditions, not only physically but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This therapy is very good for them.
At these times when we are almost exclusively at home, how could we receive the benefits of sound healing ? Does it work if we make a soundbath with YouTube or IGTV videos, for example?
Of course! In fact, a couple of weeks ago I started offering sound healing and meditations online in Spanish and English and many people have been joining. I have also received very nice comments from people sharing how the experience has served them. Sound helps a lot to relax the mind and body, to release stress and tension and to find calm and inner peace.
In these moments I think it is key to give ourselves spaces for relaxation, self-care and personal connection. We are going through a profound change globally and it is very important to stay focused and prepared internally. Calm helps us face the crisis with more clarity, confidence, spiritual abundance and love, contrary to states of fear and collective panic that slow down our creative development and deteriorate our nervous system.