Sound, Aerial and Reiki

Sound

Since 2021, I have been offering trauma informed sound journeys, sound baths and immersive sound experiences. Since 2025 I have been offering aerial sound baths as well as various workshops, including sound and chocolate workshops in collaboration with Laura from Conscious Yoga.  Being a Reiki Master, reiki flows into all the work I do and I actively bring it into my sound sessions.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with a wide range of organisations and at various venues. Some of the venues have included The Salisbury Centre, Lila Yoga and The Art & Spirituality Centre.  Some of the organisations I have worked with include the University of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University Yoga Society, the Ripple Project, The Northern Lighthouse Board and others.

I am known for holding regular sound sessions with hands off Reiki, which I began in 2021. These were first offered at the Art and Spirituality Centre and later at the Salisbury Centre. From January 2026 onwards I integarted into other offerings.

Alongside my public sessions, I have also provided sound experiences for private events, including birthdays, pre wedding gatherings and other special occasions.

My sound sessions include a variety of instruments including Tibetan bowls, drums, crystal bowls, shruti box, drums, chimes and my own voice. You can expect grounding guided meditation and some beautiful readings. Optional hands off reiki will be shared will all participants during the sound journey, creating a an energising and empowering experience.

Important

Sound sessions are not advised for some individuals (see my terms and conditions section/contact me as needed with questions).  Please consult a medical professional if in doubt.

Sound Disclaimer (No Gongs Included)

Please Consider the Following Before Taking Part In A Sound Session 

Sound Bath Disclaimer (No Gongs Included)

Please read before taking part in any KOA sound offerings.

Koa sound sessions involve the use of instruments such as crystal singing bowls, chimes, Tibetan bowls, drums, a shruti box and other instruments, including he voice. No gongs will be used during sessions.  Sound sessions may not be suitable for everyone, please consult a medical professional if in doubt.

Please consider the following before taking part:

Sound Contraindications and Cautions (list is not exhaustive)

Avoid or seek medical advice if you have (list is not exhaustive):

• Epilepsy or seizure disorders
• Severe mental health conditions (e.g. schizophrenia, PTSD)
• Pregnancy (especially in the first trimester)
• A pacemaker or hearing aid
• Recently had surgery or have a serious medical condition
• Heart problems or blood pressure issues
• Vertigo or inner ear disorders
• Sound sensitivity

Use caution if you (list is not exhaustive):

• Are sensitive to loud sounds or certain frequencies
• Experience migraines or headaches triggered by sound
• Have sensory sensitivities, this can include neurodivergence
• Feel anxious or overwhelmed in deep relaxation settings

General advice:

• Tell the facilitator about any health conditions
• Sit further from loud instruments if needed
• Start with gentle or shorter sessions
• Stay hydrated and take time to ground yourself afterwards
• The session is intended to support relaxation and general wellbeing. It is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment or therapy.
• If you experience any discomfort during the session, you are welcome to quietly step out or notify the facilitator.

By attending a session, you confirm that you have read and understood this disclaimer and that you take part at your own risk.

Aerial sound baths and sessions conducted while lying on a mat require a reasonable level of mobility, including the ability to get down to and up from the floor. Please consider this before booking.

Contact Cori with any questions, concerns or information before attending, including:

• Hearing issues or use of hearing aids
• Any trauma that could be activated, including CPTSD or PTSD
• Any sound-triggered seizures or similar sensitivities

Finally: 

• Your comfort and safety are important. If you feel any discomfort during the session, you are welcome to quietly step outside or inform the facilitator.
• By attending sound sessions, you confirm that you have read and understood KOA terms and conditions and  that you take part at your own risk.

What to expect

If you are new to sound sessions you can expect to be lying down and you will hear a variety of sounds. It is however to be noted that you can be seated if you prefer or moving and I make efforts to make all her offerings as flexible and inclusive as I can.  If you are joining an aerial session, we will advise you of your options.

Each instrument has a different frequency and vibration and the vibrations are scientifically proven to promote wellbeing and relaxation. With regard to the nervous system, research tells us sound promotes a sense of rest and restore which means it activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Please refer to my information section about the nervous system on this website for more detailed information.  Sound practices have been practiced for many years, in various cultures and they are a beautiful way to take  time out of your day to relax and be. Sound journeys can help with anxiety, stress, sleep issues, feeling unsettled and restlessness, however you are reminded this is complimentary therapy.

I aim to create a supportive space where all are welcome. The intention of these sessions are to promote a feeling of being grounded, rooted, settled; something which is so important in the very changing world we live in. No previous experience is needed and you can contact me with any questions you may have.  All sessions are trauma informed.

Some Benefits of Sound Journey & Reiki for Nervous System Regulation

• Calming the Nervous System
  Both sound and Reiki promote a shift from the sympathetic (fight/flight) to parasympathetic (rest/digest) state, helping reduce stress and restore a balanced nervous system.

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation
  The gentle frequencies of sound and Reiki’s energy flow can stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps regulate heart rate, digestion, and emotional resilience.

• Promoting Deep Relaxation
  Sound journeys, especially those with low-frequency tones, and Reiki’s calming energy help activate parasympathetic responses, lowering cortisol levels and inducing relaxation.

• Emotional Release and Healing
  Both modalities support emotional processing, helping the body release stored trauma or tension by gently guiding it into a safe, grounded state where emotional energy can flow freely.

• Fostering a Sense of Safety
  Reiki’s non-invasive touch and the supportive environment of sound healing signal to the nervous system that it is in a safe space, which encourages deep healing and release.

• Balancing Energy Flow
  Reiki works directly on the energy body, clearing blockages and restoring flow to areas of tension, while sound frequencies help align and harmonize the body’s energy fields.

• Enhancing Interoception
  Sound and Reiki practices promote body awareness and interoception, helping you become more attuned to internal cues and sensations, improving your ability to regulate your emotions and stress levels.

• Facilitating Nervous System Reset
  Both sound and Reiki provide a reset for the nervous system by lowering hyperarousal and fostering a state of calm and presence, which enhances long-term emotional regulation and resilience.

Why Sound?

Sound baths are a creative way to support your nervous system and return to a state of balance and calm. The frequencies and vibrations used in sound therapy help the body move from a stress response (sympathetic state) into the rest and digest mode (parasympathetic state).

As your body relaxes, your brainwaves also begin to shift. Many people move from the active beta brainwave state, linked to alertness, focus and problem solving, into slower alpha and theta states, which are associated with deep relaxation, meditative awareness, creativity and emotional integration. Beta waves are dominant during everyday thinking and activity, but spending long periods in this state can contribute to stress and mental fatigue. Alpha brainwaves are often experienced during moments of calm presence, mindfulness and light meditation, while theta brainwaves are connected to deeper meditative states, intuition, emotional release and restorative healing. These shifts in brainwave activity can support mental clarity, emotional processing, improved sleep and a greater sense of inner peace and wellbeing.

The vibrational nature of sound works on a cellular level, soothing tension in the body, calming the mind and helping to regulate the nervous system gently and naturally. The human body is made up of approximately 60% water, which plays a crucial role in how we respond to sound. Because water is an excellent conductor of vibration, sound waves travel efficiently through our bodies, allowing us to physically feel and absorb the effects of sound on a deep cellular level. Sound baths and immersive experiences using instruments like singing bowls, gongs and chimes use this natural conductivity to promote relaxation, reduce stress and support healing. As the vibrations resonate through the body, they can help calm the nervous system, balance energy and bring about a meditative state, making sound baths a powerful tool for holistic wellbeing.

Sound baths using crystal singing bowls and Tibetan bowls are a form of sound therapy that promote deep relaxation and energetic balance through resonant tones and vibrations. Each bowl is usually tuned to specific frequencies that correspond to the body’s seven main chakras, which are energy centres aligned along the spine, helping to clear blockages and restore harmony. Crystal singing bowls are often linked with clarity and higher frequencies, while Tibetan bowls produce grounding and earthy tones. During a sound bath, participants lie down and allow the layers of sound to flow over them, often entering a meditative state that supports emotional release, stress reduction, energetic alignment and an overall sense of calm and restoration.

What is reiki?

Reiki is a form of complimentary therapy that originated in Japan.  Mikao Usui is the founder of Reiki. In 1922, after a 21-day meditation and fasting retreat on Mount Kurama in Japan, he experienced a spiritual awakening and developed Reiki as a healing practice. He then taught this method, called Usui Reiki Ryoho, to thousands of students.

Usui’s Reiki focuses on channeling universal life energy to promote healing and spiritual growth. After his death in 1926, his students spread Reiki worldwide, especially to the West. Usui’s system combines energy healing with meditation and ethical principles.

Reiki involves the practitioner placing their hands lightly on or just above the recipient’s body to channel healing energy.

The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words:

• “Rei” meaning “universal”
• “Ki” meaning “life energy” or “vital energy”

So Reiki is often described as “universal life energy.”

Practitioners believe that this energy can flow through them to the patient to help balance the energy centers in the body (sometimes called chakras), which can help improve physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Reiki is generally considered gentle, non-invasive, and safe. While some people report feeling warmth, tingling, or deep relaxation during a session, scientific evidence on its effectiveness is limited, and it’s often used as a complementary therapy rather than a replacement for medical treatment.

Why combine reiki with sound

Reiki:

• A Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation.
• Works by channeling healing energy through the practitioner’s hands to the recipient.
• Helps balance the body’s energy systems, promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

Sound:

• Uses sound vibrations (like singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, or chanting) to influence the body’s energy.
• These vibrations can help release energetic blockages and bring harmony to the mind and body.
• Different sounds resonate with different chakras or energy centers, helping restore balance.

Why combine them?

• Amplified relaxation: Sound vibrations deepen the relaxed state induced by Reiki.
• Enhanced energy flow: Sound can help clear blockages so Reiki energy flows more freely.
• Multi-sensory healing: Combining touch-based Reiki with auditory sound creates a richer healing experience.
• Holistic balancing: Both work on subtle energy layers—Reiki with direct energy flow, sound with vibrational resonance.

Aerial Sound Baths

Aerial sound baths are a deeply creative way to experience relaxation and sensory immersion. Being suspended in silk or a hammock creates a feeling of weightlessness that allows the body to fully soften and release tension. The gentle cocooning effect can help the nervous system feel safe and supported, encouraging a shift into a calmer parasympathetic state where rest and restoration become easier. When combined with sound healing, the movement of vibration through the air and fabric creates a more enveloping experience, allowing people to feel the frequencies not only through listening but also physically through the body. The combination of floating, sound and stillness can heighten emotional awareness, encourage deeper relaxation and create a dreamlike sense of escape from everyday overstimulation.

Sound and Chocolate Experiences

Sound and chocolate experiences are an imaginative and immersive way to engage the senses through taste, vibration and atmosphere. Chocolate naturally encourages pleasure and comfort through its rich texture and mood enhancing qualities, while sound adds an emotional and energetic dimension that can deepen the experience. Pairing carefully chosen sounds with mindful tasting invites people to slow down and become fully present, transforming something familiar into a multisensory ritual. The contrast of flavour, resonance and sensation can awaken creativity, memory and emotion, making the experience feel both grounding and expansive. Together, sound and chocolate create a space that feels indulgent, calming and emotionally nourishing while offering a unique form of sensory connection.

Differences Between Instruments (some examples)

• Drum (e.g. shamanic drum)
  • Deep, rhythmic sounds
  • Grounding and energising
  • Often used to bring focus and connection to the body or Earth
  • Common in shamanic or journeying practices
• Chimes (e.g. Koshi or wind chimes)
  • Light, airy, and delicate tones
  • Used to shift energy gently and elevate mood
  • Helpful for transitions or to clear subtle energy fields
• Crystal Sound Bowls
  • Made of quartz crystal; produce clear, resonant tones
  • Each bowl is tuned to a specific musical note, corresponding to a chakra
  • Often used in chakra balancing and energetic healing
• Tibetan Singing Bowls
  • Traditionally made from a mix of metals
  • Produce rich, layered overtones when struck or played around the rim
  • Earthy and grounding; known for promoting calm and introspection
  • Used in both meditation and healing rituals
• Shruti Box
  • Indian drone instrument producing a continuous, harmonious tone
  • Played using bellows; supports chanting or toning
  • Creates a steady background sound, aiding focus and breathwork
• Toning (vocal sounds)
  • Involves using the human voice to produce sustained notes
  • Can resonate deeply within the body
  • Used for personal clearing, vocal exploration, and chakra activation

Crystal Bowl Notes and Chakra Associations

• C – Root Chakra (Muladhara)
  • Stability, grounding, physical security
• D – Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
  • Emotions, creativity, sexuality
• E – Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
  • Confidence, personal power, will
• F – Heart Chakra (Anahata)
  • Love, compassion, emotional balance
• G – Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
  • Communication, truth, expression
• A – Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
  • Intuition, insight, perception
• B – Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
  • Spiritual connection, enlightenment, unity

What are chakras

Chakras are thought to be energy centres in the body that influence a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual health. Originating from ancient Indian traditions, there are seven main chakras positioned along the spine, each linked to different aspects of life, such as communication, love or stability. The idea of chakras is widely used in yoga, meditation and holistic practices to help promote balance and well-being. The seven chakras are: the root chakra, the sacral chakra, the solar plexus chakra, the heart chakra, the throat chakra, the third eye chakra, and the crown chakra.

Reflecting on my journey with sound…

I completed my Qualification in Sound Healing and Sound Massage in January 2021 during the COVID pandemic with Natalie from Palm and Bowl. At the time, I envisioned simply playing a Tibetan bowl in a yoga class, never anticipating how much this new skill would develop. I vividly remember my first sound bath at The Art and Spirituality Centre, where I was overjoyed to have three attendees. Initially, I only used crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls and chimes, but soon, attendance grew, and I found myself facilitating sound baths for 20 people at a time. There were many moments when I doubted my abilities, and I often felt critical of my performance after each session, but I knew I loved playing live sound so I kept going.

My exploration of new instruments like chimes, various Tibetan bowls, rattles, and drums added a layer of creativity to my practice. I built confidence by incorporating chanting and singing into my sessions, even birthing my own drum with The Drum Woman. This experience inspired me and transformed my sound baths into immersive sound journeys, each experience becoming more creative and unique. My connection with my instruments, especially my drum and voice, deepened significantly.

Now, I am excited to offer aerial sound baths and hold space at various festivals, in organisations and events, having grown from just three attendees to holding space for up to 35 souls. I am incredibly thankful for this growth and do not take it for granted!

This journey has been hugely fulfilling, and I feel immense gratitude and joy for where I am today. My sound practice fosters a profound connection to my body, providing both healing and empowerment.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of this journey, especially those who have been with me since the very beginning.

I’m currently collaborating with Laura from Conscious Yoga and The Salisbury Centre to offer sound experiences, and I’m eager to see where this path will take me as I continue to grow and evolve.

Aerial sound baths:

Link to book aerial sound baths and yoga, aerial meditation, chocolate and sound workshops: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/conscious-yoga-92814896963

Book me for a private session:

• Book a bespoke 60 or 90 minute trauma informed sound journey designed to support the nervous system, relaxation, and promote more emotional balance. Several sessions can be booked.
• Experience a combination of instruments, including the drum, Tibetan bowls, crystal singing bowls, chimes, my voice and other carefully selected instruments to create a deeply immersive session.
• You choose the theme for your session, whether it is grounding, stress relief, emotional release, or deep relaxation, each journey is uniquely crafted to meet your individual needs and intentions.
• Sessions can be combined with other KOA offerings, such as mindfulness or somatic practices, for a fully tailored and holistic, integrative experience.

Further information:

The science of sound: https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/01/16/a-psychologist-explores-the-healing-power-of-sound-baths/