FAQ basic:

Where are you located? Events & classes take place in several locations, so will be listed on the events when not at the home studio. Home Studio, the moonSHALA, is located in the Nutana neighbourhood in Saskatoon, SK (Canada). Once you have registered for an event/session you will receive an exact address and further information on how to access the studio.

Is there Parking? At the moonSHALA there is residential street parking at no charge.

Can I take photos or recordings of you/your space/your instruments? I request all phones be turned off and kept out of the Studio if possible. This includes smart watches and any digital devices that may be distracting. For permissions, please ask explicit consent from me or any other person to have them in your photo. No recordings are permitted with exception of the hosting Gallery. Recordings and photos rarely do justice to my work as they are not intended as a performance/product.

What if I cannot attend my event? Can I refund or exchange my ticket? Due to the small studio and limited offerings, all tickets are final sale. If you are unable to attend after making your booking you are welcome to gift your registration to someone else; just send the studio word that you are making this exchange ahead of the event.

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FAQ about what it is:

What is a Sound Bath/Sound meditation? A sound bath is a full body listening experience that bathes the whole body in sound waves. A Sound Bath is an intentional listening practice with the facilitator selecting instruments and creating an arrangement of sounds intended to take you into an immersive state of presence. Sound baths are a co-creation. You as the listener set the intention to be present and to receive the sounds with your whole body. The facilitator sets the intention to provide a soundscape that is directly connected to those in the room. The meeting of these intentions can create an incredibly special environment of receptivity and presence.

During the sound bath you may rest on props such as bolsters and blankets, and eye pillow, to support you completely. You are welcome and encouraged to bring with you your own props like a yoga mat, pillow(s) or blanket(s) for the deeper relaxation personal items offer.

At some events you will be guided through relaxation techniques such as a body scan, guided gentle breathing, meditations or visualizations. You will receive the stimulus of a soundscape composed of instruments that have a wide range of overtones and harmonics. Instruments may include crystal and metal bowls, gongs, tuning forks, chimes, rattles, ocean and rain sounds, drones such as shruti box and voice.

“Sound BATH” is the gentle path: explicitly meant for promoting relaxation. To invite slower brainwave states through an induced calm through entrainment to slow, trance-like sound waves. Often a non-musical composition (the focus being upon holding the opportunity open for a relaxed state to the “bather” with seemingly random, sometimes solitary, soothing sounds)

“Sound MEDITATION” has more grit to it: there is certainly opportunity for relaxation, but the priority is to present stimuli (sounds & states) that can cultivate awareness throughout a spectrum of consciousness, including the Gong-forte (loud) and complex layering of sound to evoke resonance (a little more profound than entrainment). There is a paradoxical “work” available for the “meditator” in a meditation: to receive the stimuli and observe their reaction with the acceptance of a deepening relationship experienced with self through the purposeful act of deep listening… while the body is at rest. The guide may present an arrangement (musical or non-musical) or a purely intuitive soundscape (influenced real-time), or both, according to their skill and intention.

“Sound JOURNEY” is usually a course for the practitioner to experience adventure together with the group; often purely composition (musical) drawing upon all skillsets (relaxation, meditation, ++) to enhance whatever time shared together in a reality bubble that the guide has downloaded from their own experience.

“In a Journey, I’m often practicing with Vedic Astrology, or contemplating certain themes (i.e. moon phases) when composing an arrangement in this way… allowing the artifacts (instruments) to tell a story of time through them and my understanding as a human channel of the now. There is more focus on opening the space up for every individual to have a safe sense of moving together as a pack through the central shared experience of being altered through sounds; akin to a murmuration of birds.” -Sandhi 

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FAQ speaking to my style & your enjoyment:

I want to relax, can you help with that? I’ve designated and identify certain offerings as “gentle” sounds. These are most accessible to everyone especially beginners or those seeking relaxation… the relaxing-kind of sound bath, gentle & sweet. No surprises.

“Luna“ is a simple offering with gentle guided breathing and a little bit of easy restorative yoga, intended to encourage the being to unwind and relax with clarity. We culminate in a fully supported laying-down position to receive a very sweet soundscape of gentle clear sounds; the inspiration is one of opening to the vision of a starry night sky .

I want to awaken my consciousness, can you help with that? The more intense “experienced” sound sessions, or “sound journeys”, invite those with a generous spirit for adventure or who are seeking deeper interoception/self-study and are recommended for after you have had at least one 60/75min session “with GONG-forte”. These offerings are also identified for their potency.

Is it loud? At the offerings identified as “with Gong”, YES, the 42″ Wind Gong is skillfully played “forte” (loud) at times and can provide us with the opportunity for incredibly powerful responses. These offerings are identified for your comfort and enjoyment to discern.

Gongs create a wide, immersive sound field with complex overtones and strong vibration. For many people, this is profoundly regulating. But for some nervous systems that level of sensory input can be hard to track or orient to. When her sound becomes unpredictable or too layered, the nervous system can move out of regulation (hypervigilance) rather than into it . Gong is always played mindfully for this reason of complexity, and when she is in her forte state this is done even more skillfully and for temporary duration as I’ve been educated to play her. It’s truly OKAY if you find her too much.

If you have any aversion to the experience you are having in the space, you are more than welcome to approach the “rescue” methods I deliver to you before we begin (breath awareness, movements that include swaying or rocking, and/or methods for holding the ears), or to simply leave the room. At moonSHALA there is a cozy place near the washroom, or even in the garden for you to calm yourself away from the intensity you are experiencing while the session completes. I encourage you to then re-enter the space and let me know if you are ok, at which point we can assess together whatever resources you need to reclaim state of calm before leaving.

More on my personal journey and style here.

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FAQ that relate to the body (including contraindications):

What happens if I fall asleep during a sound bath? If you fall asleep during a sound bath it simply means you are tired and your body is getting rest it needs! I welcome and encourage all listeners to come as you are. If you are next to a sleeping sound bather, please remember that ALL sounds are welcome in a sound bath. We work with global listening and no hierarchy of sounds. It is a sweet and vulnerable moment to be in the intimacy of another human resting. Please allow yourself to feel the tenderness in this rather than feeling the need to have the soundscape be void from human sounds.

What should I do if I know I snore if I fall asleep? Adequate rest is essential & encouraged, but as a potential snoring soul you are invited to take a seated position or even request a place in the room that allows you to prop yourself against a wall to encourage your state of rest but not to the point of sleeping. Upon request ahead of time, the moonSHALA has perfect, padded, comfortable spaces exactly for you to enjoy relaxing while seated.

What should I do if someone is snoring in a sound bath? Because we are all quite naturally tired, and sound baths guide us into a relaxed state, it is not uncommon for folks to doze into sleep for parts of sound baths. If you find yourself next to someone snoring, know that this is simply part of the experience and celebrate their ability to rest. We never wake anyone or silence anyone in sound bath sessions. My invitation to you is to allow your capacity and perception of listening to soften to receive all sounds. The other option is that if you feel you would benefit from less unpredictability from other bodies in the room, please book a private sound bath with me where you will receive the sounds one on one.

Can I bring children to a Sound Bath? If you’d like to share sound baths with younger listeners, my recommendation is to first book a private family sound bath where the young listeners can experience the sounds in the comfort of those they know and with less rigidity. During a family sound bath your kids can move around the room, and there is time to ask questions and even play some of the instruments. If they enjoy the experience and feel they can be still for the full session, they are welcome to attend a public class with you. Everyone is different, and age is not as much of a factor as is the attention and enjoyment of each person.

What Should I Wear to a Sound Bath? The most important thing is that you are comfortable. You can receive a sound bath in any outfit but looser fitting clothes that allow you to stretch and breathe will give you more spaciousness. Soft cozy layers are nice!

What do I need to bring with me? All you really need to bring is you! All the mats, props and blankets are provided. Some optional items to bring: a water bottle, an eye mask (if you like the sensation of a more cocooned experience), your own pillow/blanket if you prefer.

I have limited mobility. Can l attend a sound bath? Yes! If you have limited mobility, you are welcome to attend a sound bath. Some things to consider: the space can be made accessible by placing a ramp out front. If you would like me to put the ramp out, please contact the studio ahead of your sound bath. You are welcome to receive the sound bath sitting in a chair, if this would be beneficial, contact the studio ahead of time and I will prepare a chair for you. The bathroom at the moonSHALA are not accessible. The nearest accessible bathroom is Starbucks at the corner of Broadway and 10th Street, about a one minute drive from the studio.

I am pregnant. Can l attend a sound bath? There are no specific contraindications for pregnancy and sound baths. Many folks enjoy sound bath meditations throughout the duration of their pregnancies, however if you are feeling anxious about attending a sound bath while pregnant, my recommendation is to wait until you feel comfortable. The most important thing is that you are feeling at ease. Each person is different and I encourage you to listen in to what is best for you. If you are attending while pregnant and may need some additional support in the later trimesters, please reach out ahead of time and I can prepare some additional props for you, and I also have a special bean bag that many people enjoy sidelying on in the later months.

I have hearing loss. Can l attend a sound bath? For those who have a limited range of hearing or have experienced some hearing loss sound baths can be incredibly enjoyable because the sound waves are felt throughout the whole body. It is called a full body listening experience because we are able to listen in through our bones, muscles and nervous system. It is not necessary to have hearing aids on to a sound bath, you can experiment with feeling the sound rather than needing to hear it with your ears.

I have tinnitus. Do you recommend a sound bath? Yes! Many people with tinnitus find the “gentle” sound baths (without GONG forte) to be helpful. They can often temporarily quiet the tinnitus, or expand your experience and perception by changing the way the tinnitus is experienced in your body. Highly recommended to play with this form of meditation and ways of listening.

I have metal implants. Do you recommend a sound bath? I have been advised that the vibrational experience of certain sounds may cause metal implants to vibrate, either eliciting a pleasant or not-pleasant sensation. For this reason I list metal implants and pacemakers as contraindications and advise that we first book a private session where you can explore and stop any of the sensations you may experience. Everyone respond differently, so it is important to me that you have a safe and enjoyable experience.

I have trouble concentrating and staying still. Do you recommend a sound bath? Yes! Sound baths can be incredibly beneficial for those who find it difficult to meditate or be still. The first thing to know is that unlike other forms of meditation, it is not necessary that you stay still during a sound bath. If your body is asking to move, you can change positions and even consider stretching or moving if you are called. You may not want to move as the very natural way that your brain waves entrain to the sound allows for a deeper and greater capacity for expanding into longer states of meditation and concentration. You may be incredibly surprised at how easefully you rest and receive an hour of sounds. There is also a gift of being in a room with others engaged in meditation or intentional listening. Having the space be held by the facilitator and supported by others is an incredible way to enhance our ability to access states of stillness.

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