Monday Musings: Sound Bath and Island Time
Happy Monday, ladies. I hope you had a great weekend. We took the ferry over to Vancouver Island for some family time which also included a sound bath.
Sound Bath
A sound bath is meant to be a soothing, meditative, and healing experience where you are immersed in soothing, therapeutic sounds.
During a sound bath, the facilitator plays a variety of soothing sounds using singing bowls, gongs, tuning forks, crystal bowls, chimes, or drums. The vibrations and frequencies generated by these instruments are believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system, which is intended to reduce stress.
We all lay on yoga mats, with a bolster under our shoulders, covered with a cozy blanket. Having not experienced one before, I had no idea what to expect, but I assumed it would be a calming hour. Nope! Our practitioner played her bowls and instruments so loudly that I was often startled, and it felt like I was jumping out of my skin. Then she began to sing weird songs which you couldn’t quite hear the words to, so I found myself straining to understand. All in all, it was anything but soothing. Afterward, we all chatted, and very few of the ladies liked how this one was done. Some mentioned the loudness, some felt anxious, and no one relaxed. I’m going to look for one elsewhere because I love the concept. Have you ever experienced a sound bath?
Bayside Resort
When we visit family mid-island, we like to stay at the newly renovated Bayside Oceanfront Resort in Parksville. It’s a boutique hotel within walking distance of many things, with spectacular views of the coastal mountain ranges and the Parksville beaches. I left my travel mirror stuck on the sliding door during our last visit, which they saved for me. In the meantime, I purchased this new one which I prefer.
It has three suction cups on the back, which hold it very solidly to any window or mirror. This mirror has 10X magnification plus a backlit LED light which my old one didn’t have. The older my eyes get, the more light I need to see things clearly, so this one is pretty cool.
We awoke the second morning to a blanket of smoke from the horrific wildfires burning all across B.C. The province is under a state of emergency as these wildfires ravage towns and necessitate massive evacuations as people run for their lives. My heart breaks for so many who are affected. This tragedy is heartbreaking.
Loft Looks
(the white marks you see on the outfits are smears on the dressing room mirror, not the clothes)
I tried this outfit on at Loft the last time I was in and thought it was really cute. I didn’t get enough outfits for a full-on DRD, so I’ll just share a few here. This denim jacket is a nice twist on the typical shape and feels a bit more dressed up to me. The wide-leg pants are a great proportion with the cropped jacket. I love the paisley print on this mixed media top for a classic red, white, and blue outfit. The jacket is too large on me, so looks rather oversized, but it’s meant to be a fitted look.
This is the polka dot shirt I bought and have been wearing a lot! These wide-leg trousers come in four colors, in regular and petite lengths. The petite is about perfect on me. I tried the look with a long cabled cardigan on the left and a shorter crochet cardi on the right. Both are cool-toned shades for fall. I prefer the proportion on the right because it helps make my legs look longer.
PS- I’m still awaiting the lab results from my visit to the Trichologist, but she was very, very knowledgeable, and I feel so much more hopeful. More on what I learned soon.
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
I am happy to see you highlighting The Bayside Oceanside Resort, Jennifer.
Since there has been a change of ownership, the foyer and dining room have evolved to become very lovely spaces, showcasing local art. I bet you loved the Robert Held water drops installation…he is a master craftsman I first learned about in Calgary , before we both retired here in Oceanside. I have a small collection of his work. Seeing the photos of the newly done bedrooms, it really has changed! And there’s an outdoor pool now as well.
We are shocked and saddened to see our beautiful province on fire in so many locations. I am particularly familiar with the Sorrento area. A recently widowed family member in her late 70’s has been evacuated to stay with her son in the Rogers Pass, and I do believe a client of mine , from my interior designer days, has likely lost their beautiful cottage on the far side of the lake where we stayed with them one summer.
It is such a devastating fire! My heart breaks for everyone affected.
I love Robert Held and his Art Glass. I bought MANY things from him when I had easy access to him and his work when he lived in Ontario. I would love to see what he did in the hotel! He is getting “up there” in age so the more he can do before he is no longer with us to share his talent the better. I do not see a picture in this blog of the drip installation….hoping Jennifer saw it…
I did see it and it’s amazing!
I think you and the other attendees should mention your disappointment in the ‘sound bath’ experience. Maybe the instructor is new, or at the very least needs a little constructive criticism to hone her skills.
Jennifer your stay at the Bayside Resort has motivated me! We just purchased tickets to Seattle for the last week of Sept. This looks like a great location for a few days. What city do you ferry from? Is a car a necessity on the island? Looks like a great vacation!
A car is necessary up island to get around. You’ll want to get to the beaches etc because there’s so much to see. You’ll love it there, we do.
My daughter plays singing bowls every Monday night. She has also played them for some local yoga classes. The tones are lovely – vary by bowl – and it is never loud. I think she charges $10 for the Monday night relaxation. My son is outside Seattle and says the smoke has been brutal there. They stay inside with windows closed and are careful not to let the dog be outside too long.
That’s so lovely that she plays them, Maeve!! We are staying inside as much as possible now because the smoke has blanketed Vancouver too. It’s so sad.
A close by library (Boulder Public Library) offers a lunchtime Music Meditation program once a month. Here is the description.
“Relax and unwind while listening to beautiful, improvised music. (Five musicians) … offer a musical soundscape created by instruments from around the world.”
I took my Mom, during a difficult transition for her. We both loved it! It took place in an auditorium, with us sitting in chairs.
Thanks for the reminder to give it a try again! I guess I was just lucky to find something like this, that was truly perfect for us the very first time.
That sounds like such a lovely experience, Lisa. You were lucky to find it.
I used to go to gong bathes when I lived in the Chicago area. They had them at my gym yoga classes. The calm lasts for several months, longer than a message. I was ver skeptical at first, but try it!
Jennifer C.
I will try another place for a more relaxing one.
Sound Bath? Sounds more like a MRI. No, no, no!
Those Mariner wide-leg pants make your legs look so long!
I know. Great optical illusion from the high waist.
I hate that you had a bad sound bath experience. I do recommend you give it another try with someone who has a lot of experience as it can be very therapeutic.
I will, I’m really looking forward to a good one.
My sound bath is nightly. I fill my bi tub with hot bubbly water (dr teals epsom salt bubble bath) and have my phone on edge of tub. I go to YouTube and search relaxing music.
So wonderful
Sounds fabulous, Carmen
I have been to several sound baths in the past, at my yoga studio and at a wellness resort in Arizona. I have never had a problem with the volume. I found the sessions “OK” but I have to confess, I did not enjoy the “vocals” that accompanied the singing bowls. Everyone is different and I know (from friends who love it) that it’s very relaxing and enjoyable for some. For me, there are other ways to find that peace and relaxation. Hope you find yours!
My sister has thinning hair and wears it in a bob. She recently went to a Sassoon trained hairdresser and he said he was trained not to use razors or the razor/thinning shears, just scissors because they damage the hair. Her hair looks soooo much thicker with his cut. The previous person was using all of those items. I’ve experienced the same with his haircuts.
That’s awesome, Diane! I don’t like the way razors leave my hair so wispy.
I was at loft last week as well, picked up the new camel blazer a printed blouse.
They have had some cute things!
The sound bath sounds intriguing. I’ll see if I can find a place here that offers them and get more info. The Emory wide leg trousers, polka dot shirt and short cardi look fabulous on you. I’m still looking at the colors that are in the stores for fall and figuring out which ones will work for me, but a pair of the Emory trousers is definitely on my shopping list. I hope you have a great week.
They’re a great trouser at a fabulous price.
I have never heard of a sound bath before. I’m not sure if I’d like that or not. The closest thing I might get to it is when I go to my Chiropractor, which is a wellness center more then anything else. They play beautiful scenic videos with quiet music. It is so relaxing in there.
I’m a happy follower of your wonderful posts and I live in West Vancouver. If you come back from Parksville via Horseshoe Bay, there is a fabulous consignment store in West Van that is about a three minute drive from the highway the ferry brings you onto. Encore Consignment, 2445 Marine Dr, West Vancouver. Upscale, stylish, top quality things at great prices. The Bakehouse that is a couple shops over has fantastic soups and sandwiches- the meat loaf sandwich is a community favourite. Temper pastries is there with West Van’s best French palmiers and pastries. The Sea Walk that is a block in front at Dundarave Pier and Beach is a wonderful oceanfront walk. The Beach House restauarnt is at Dundarave Beach- expensive but it has a great view and location. Enjoy your trip, Jane
You live in such a fabulous place, Jane. Thanks for all these wonderful recomendations!!
Gee, the concept sounds great to me, but too loud? That would certainly ruin the essence of calm they’re aiming for. There is an art studio not far from my home that offers these (yoga too sometimes) but I’ve not been there. Maybe I’ll try it!
Check it out because the concept sounds wonderful.
My yoga studio (where I teach) does a sound bath at least once a month, depending on the moon schedule, August has two. I have been doing these for years and have never encountered singing, it is either bold sounds and chanting with the gongs which tends to be quite loud or the singing bowls (which is the one I always do), which is very soft music from the bowls and chimes. We start with a restorative yin practice and then move into meditation and then the sound bath, the practitioner will usually walk around with some essential oils and ask if you would like some and/or she may do some gentle touch/massage to help if you’re not relaxing and only if you allow it, some people do not like to be touched. You may need to find a studio that fits your needs, every place is different, but you should walk out completely relaxed, your nervous system reset, and you should have mental clarity.
Your place sounds amazing, Rita!! What an amazing experience.
I did a sound bath as part of a week-end long retreat. We did this under the stars one night and I have to say it was lovely and relaxing with nothing too jarring. I would not have liked that either! On another note, I like that Quince silky shirt on you in black. I bought it in off white. While I have worn it several times, I don’t think it does anything for my straight up and down figure as it’s boxy and hard to define any waistline. I still like it to wear with some of my Eileen Fisher pants with elastic waist anyway!
A weekend retreat sounds so perfect!
My yoga studio has a monthly sound bath and yoga nidra on a
Friday night and I actually love it. But there was no singing involved. 😉 I did hear one woman who came up afterward and say some specific tones hurt her ears, so it’s probably not for everyone. But maybe you just haven’t found the right one for you.
I’m going to try an other one because al the other ladies complained this was too loud as well.