It’s not just hitting gongs!

At Studio One Yoga our whole employment ethos is about working with the most qualified and experienced teachers in their field. We want our teachers to only teach what they love and are passionate about and that means that as a studio and as a team we evolve together.

Our Sound Therapist Kim has been through more training than most and her passion for the gongs is palpable. If you’re looking for a truly authentic experience with a super passionate teacher then look no further.

Here’s how she got to where she is today (in her words)…

“My interest began with Tibetan Singing Bowls during my BWY Teacher Training Course when I attended a 2 weekend course with Szilvia Gardian, where I was introduced to the history of singing bowls and various techniques for playing singing bowls. During this training I purchased what began as my first set of bowls tuned to the heart chakra. This meant I felt very comfortable using singing bowls during meditation and relaxation sessions, as I continued to train as a yoga teacher.

I vividly remember my first experience of a sound bath at a day retreat, where a group of players had come together to play us a 2 hour session. I levitated and felt such a release of emotions that I instantly knew I wanted to interact and learn how to play those beautiful gongs. Martyn Cawthorne was the lead sound therapist and he spoke to the group more about the gongs and let me have a go at striking them. This led to me attending an introductory day of gong training with Martyn. I then purchased my first Symphonic Paiste 32” gong and was guided to use what I had a already learned and get to know my gong for a year with a view to further training.

So a year later (2018) I enrolled in the School of Sound Smiths (full certified course) duration of 10 months. Involving 20 case studies and 5 training weekends plus an investigation of a gong-related topic of your choice. It covered the history and manufacture of gongs, equipment, suppliers, playing skills and effects of gongs. Preparing for case studies, one-one gong baths, intermediate skills development, client positions, self-assessment, harmonics and brain waves. Moving onto advanced skills development, group gong baths, working with yoga classes, meditation and playing. Admin topics such as, bookings, payments, advertising, promotion, social media. Complimentary instruments such as crystal bowls, singing bowls, rattles, shakers, bells, wah-wah tubes, frame drums etc. Finally, one of my group sound baths was assessed by Martyn with feedback given before graduating in 2019. During this course I experienced the magical power of gongs and how they can be played so subtly with maximum effect. I am fully aware that I am holding space for people who maybe very vulnerable, so it’s really important that the sound therapist has been through the appropriate Sound Therapy training. In reality the gongs and instruments play me as the collective energy of a group sound bath leads the way. I do not play from a set or musical score, it’s a feeling and organic style that I adopt depending on the gongs I have chosen to bring, often following the cycles of the moon and season of nature we are experiencing.”