FAQs

A sound bath is a full body listening experience that bathes the whole body in sound waves. A Sound Bath is an intentional meditative listening practice with the facilitator selecting instruments and creating an intuitive arrangement of sounds intended to take you deeper into an immersive state of meditation. 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 meditative soundscape that is directly connected to those who are in the room. The meeting of these intentions creates an incredibly special environment of receptivity and presence. Some may even call it magic!

During the sound bath you will be invited to rest on supportive pillows with props such as bolsters and blankets to support and cozy you in. An eye mask is also invited for a deeper experience. The facilitator will guide you through relaxation techniques such as a body scan, breathwork or visualization. From here you will receive an intuitive soundscape composed of different instruments that have a wide range of overtones and harmonics that can be very therapeutic. Instruments may include crystal and metal bowls, gongs, tuning forks, chimes, rattles, ocean and rain sounds, drones such as shruti box and voice.

Why does time seem to evaporate so quickly in a sound bath? What is going on?

During a sound bath, your brain naturally entrains to sound waves. Entrainment to the sound waves means that you are synchronizing with the sounds. This naturally slows your brain waves down and you enter into a more relaxed state, usually moving from Beta to alpha, theta and sometimes delta. This may cause you to feel like you are in a dream state (theta), or that you are coming in and out of awareness as you enter into this softer dreamy state. This is a beautiful way to gift your body deeper rest, and recalibration.

If you fall asleep during a sound bath it simply means you are tired and your body is getting the rest it needs! You are great at sound baths because you are giving your body what it most is asking for to heal. 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.

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.

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.

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!

All you really need to bring is you! Kikospace provides all the mats, props and blankets. 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.

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 bathrooms at Kikospace are not accessible. The nearest accessible bathroom is Starbucks at the corner of Dundas West and Roncesvalles, about a one minute drive from the studio.

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 bed that many people enjoy sidelying on in the later months.

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 wear hearing aids to a sound bath, you can experiment with feeling the sound rather than needing to hear it with your ears.

Yes! Many people with tinnitus find sound baths 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.

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 meditation. There is also a gift of being in a room with others engaged in meditation. Having the space be held by the facilitator and supported by others is an incredible way to enhance our ability to access a more meditative state.