Why did you choose the name Rezenance?
So during one of my training courses we used a reflective process known as the 7 R's. I couldn't resist choosing a name starting with the letter R, having written 1000's of words about these 'R words' and because everything with sound therapy is related to Resonance I wanted to reflect that, the concept of rebalance and the whole 'Zen' aspect of the after sound therapy treatment/soundbath effect... and so the name Rezenance evolved.
Why did you want to become a Sound Therapist?
I have always studied and worked with a number of alternative therapies whilst working as a Music teacher in secondary schools. I ended up using my subject more and more as a therapeutic tool in the classroom, especially with the rise in anxiety and mental health issues and as well as setting up wellbeing hubs and singer songwriter platforms and using voice and expression as a medium for teenagers to release their emotions; I realised how powerful music and sound had been to help and treat so many physical, mental and emotional conditions and wanted to focus more on the science behind this.
Another big deciding factor for me to pursue this particular therapy was from sadly having lost several family members; my sister to cancer at a young age and an aggressive brain tumour in my father, a cardiac arrest with my late husband & how the trauma of bereavement and loss was for everyone involved. Music is a wonderful medium, but above all I wanted to find a therapy that could soothe, relax, help with stress, sleeplessness, effectively alter brainwave activity and perhaps influence cellular behaviour on a physical level.
I had been collecting Crystal singing bowls and Himalayan bowls through various travels and I think it was always a calling, but at that time wasn't particularly accessible in the UK.
Do you think you have to be trained to be offering Sound Therapy?
That's actually an interesting question. (pause) I think understanding the science and brainwave activity and how to induce ASC (altered state of consciousness) and bring a client out of ASC safely is really helpful and important. Learning how to play the therapeutic instruments and if working with groups how to manage that aspect. I'm not sure I would feel confident to hold 1:1 sessions without any training.
I have been to some wonderful Soundbath experiences, but equally some really not wonderful ones. There is definitely ego out there, as probably with every alternative healing modality, but ultimately people will find what suits them best and the right practitioner and all I would say is if you haven't had a good experience don't assume every Soundbath is the same and maybe try another. There are a lot of different therapeutic instruments to try too... singing bowls, gongs, monochord, drums etc and they all have their own sonic signature.
Do you prefer groups or 1:1's?
So I have to say I enjoy both equally, I absolutely love the group sessions and the regulars I have that come to my group Soundbaths in Devon. In Sidmouth they take place in a beautiful space at The Ocean Wellness Hub, which is used a lot for yoga and wellbeing practice and it's a wonderful time every Sunday eve to collectively retune, reset and rebalance the systems ready for the week ahead. I really enjoy using the crystal singing bowls and have inherited some beautiful large bowls from retreats in Bali, that have some incredible frequencies. My group sessions use a lot of intervals and specific frequencies designed to restore and reset the body and mind. I wanted to make these accessible to eveyone. Sometimes we might use the gongs for release if individuals need more of that, but retreat days can focus much more in depth and use hand gongs over the body, breathwork and voice and other ways to access a much deeper release within the system.
1:1's are bespokely designed sessions so these are very tailored to the individual coming and what they would like to be treated for. For example the Himalayan bowl on-body sound massage is undoubtedly the most effective treatment for muscle tension and pain. It is extremely rewarding as a therapist to be able to see first hand the positive physical, mental and emotional changes, the deep shifts, the release and numerous physiological benefits experienced by clients.
What's coming up next?
I think the movement and yoga & breathwork are all wonderful elements to integrate into retreat days of sound so I'm excited to explore and design some more with an amazing Yogi in Devon. I'm also doing some sound teaching and training days, a little different to secondary school and teenagers, but it is something I love doing and have been asked.. so why not.
Also probably trying to embrace the world of social media which has not been my natural habitat at all!
Anything else you want to share?
For now I can't think of anything in particular to share other than I'm looking forward to more travel, research and sound collaborations and adventures in 2024.
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