Yes, you did read that correctly and no, I had no idea what it was either when I first saw it.

In 2025, I decided my intention was to try things that are outside my comfort zone this year. Note, not my resolution but my intention. I learned a long time ago, that resolutions just made me sad. Intentions seem more hopeful to me. Anyway, I decided on 12 for the year (maybe one a month). I had a few starter ideas but also challenged myself to be open to new things to try. Because let’s be honest add “with strangers” and anything pretty much becomes outside my comfort zone.

So far this year I have felted a little penguin (fun yet focus is needed because SHARP), training to be a hospice volunteer, care giving respite a few times, lived somewhere different for a month, assisted in greenspace annual planting, got my Reiki Level 1 & 2 and had a sound bath.

I think had I not taken the Reiki certifications; I might not have been as willing to do the sound bath. It is based on a similar principle of energy and how energy can heal. I like how both Reiki and the sound bath can easily be incorporated with your faith or religion as they are not religions, but spiritual practices.

A dear woman was doing an open session by donation on a Thursday night. I read a bit online, but I had no idea what I was doing. Instructions were to bring a yoga mat and pillow if you want. Yikes. So, we have unknown plus strangers. You can imagine my anxiety level. Thus, I will save you that so if you try it, you have less unknown.

I wore my yoga pants that had never seen yoga and a loose-fitting top. Brought my yoga mat (who has also never seen yoga) and a small pillow to support my neck (you lay flat on your back). She had balusters you could use for under your knees, if you wanted them. In the room was soft lighting and sets of bowls, both crystal and Tibetan. Because it was a group session, she played what she was moved to play. Think of it sort of like Jazz from an improvision standpoint. My understanding was if you had a private session, she would ask what you wanted the focus to be (healing, relaxation, focus, etc.) She offered essential oils in different scents to those that wanted them. We were flat on our back, palms up, eyes closed and she began to play the bowls.

It was interesting to me how different sounds from the bowls felt different to me. Some sounds felt like waves lapping at my feet. Other sounds were almost annoying and seemed to circle around me and felt like they were too tight. Others would also circle but more like watching a top spin and slow down. It went on for about 30 minutes and she just let the bowls trail off and told us to continue to relax until we felt it was time to get up, no rush. I didn’t feel overly relaxed, but then again, I was super anxious when we started and I certainly felt better at the end than in the beginning. Very interesting experiment that I might do again, now that I know what to expect and would be less anxious.