Sound meditation often involves crystal singing bowls, which are said to stimulate different parts of the brain through reverberated sounds. Photos: Chris Emeott
Healing rituals are making their way into daily wellness routines.
In the Sila Wellness studio, a flow of energy and peace runs freely. In the age of constant connection, it serves as a space to take a step back from daily stresses and reconnect with your innermost self. “The holistic approach is inherently the foundation of a well-rounded, healthy life. It’s mental, emotional and physical well-being,” says Samantha Kopet, co-owner, yoga instructor and reformer trainer who has always been drawn to mindfulness.
In her personal life, Kopet says it’s about enjoying the life you lead. She often wonders, “Do I feel like I have a good work-life balance? Am I present and satisfied in my own life and relationships?” It’s these questions that she encourages her clients to consider. Fellow co-owner, yoga instructor and reformer trainer Rachael Devine agrees. “We emphasize taking the time away for yourself, [as] we do give so much of ourselves to other things [and] people,” Devine says. “Take that time to find yourself and treat yourself well.”
Rachael Devine and Samantha Kopet are co-owners of Sila Wellness in Woodbury. Both serve as yoga instructors and reformer trainers, too.
At the Woodbury studio, this time can be found in group fitness and wellness classes alongside its wellness services, including Reiki energy healing and sound meditation. “It’s about being open, being willing to be here in a space that facilitates mindfulness and presentness,” Kopet says.
The Flow of Energy
Sila Wellness Reiki energy healer Becky Smith was first introduced to the practice by a friend. “Even I was skeptical,” she recalls. “When I left [my first] session, I thought I had to know how to do this and share this with people. The shift I felt in my body from that session … It’s indescribable. It’s amazing.”
The Japanese energy healing practice known as Reiki combines the words rei, meaning universal energy and spiritual consciousness, and ki, the life force energy that flows through all living beings. Using gentle touch or hovering of the hands, a practitioner serves as a conduit to channel the Reiki energy. “That universal energy flows through every living thing, including plants, animals, anything living,” Smith says. “I’m just a channel for Reiki to flow through me to the person I give it to.”
Reiki is said to induce a meditative state and aid in overall well-being. During her sessions, Smith goes through each of the seven chakras (focal points of energy throughout the body) and gives Reiki energy to the needed areas. “When I go through, I can feel which chakra is off,” she says. Her goal is to ensure that each client feels completely relaxed and calm at the end of each session. “The flow of energy helps bring that groundedness and content within the body, physically, mentally and emotionally,” Smith says.
The Sound of Healing
Left: Ocean drums are another tool utilized during sound meditation. The goal is to induce deep relaxation.
At Sila Wellness, bells, chimes, crystal singing bowls, and ocean and wave drums are all used in the practice of sound meditation. In this practice, also known as sound bathing, practitioners utilize singing bowls made of various elements to induce deep relaxation. “The music and sound is giving you something to focus on,” Kopet says. “But it’s the reverberation of the sound, the vibrations they’re making, that helps stimulate the different parts of your brain.”
It’s said that this meditative practice contributes to creativity and mental clarity, along with supporting overall well-being. “The combination of all of it contributes to nervous system regulation,” Kopet says. At Sila Wellness, sessions are often about 60 minutes in length, and clients are guided through gentle yoga for approximately 25 minutes and through sound meditation for 35 minutes.
Crystal singing bowls are played by striking and rubbing the outer rim of the bowl with a mallet, which produces ethereal sounds.
“A sound bath is an amazing opportunity for people with limited mobility or people new to mindfulness,” Kopet says, noting that the outcomes of sound bathing are similar to those produced by meditation, Reiki and yoga. “They’re all intertwined. Whether you’re moving, not moving, inside or outside, it’s all the same,” Devine adds.
The Journey to Wellness
One’s personal wellness journey is always evolving, but intertwining healing rituals with a daily routine can foster a happier and healthier lifestyle. “The more you practice, the more you start living in that state,” Devine says.
Apps, such as Calm, Headspace and Screen Zen, are helpful tools for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. The duo also recommends several books, including How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends With Your Mind by Kathleen McDonald, Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life by Judith Hanson Lasater and When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön.
“It’s very normal to be skeptical about the impact that sort of simple practices like these could have on your life. Most of us as practitioners have similar stories to Becky, where we ourselves were skeptical initially, and then you realize that there is sort of a sense of magic,” Kopet says. “Be open, be curious and allow yourself to be a beginner.”
Sila Wellness
Instagram: @silawellnessmn
