Sound healing instruments

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Reiki (pronounced 'Ray Kee') is an ancient energy healing technique rediscovered in Japan by Mikao Usui in the 1920s. The term Reiki is derived from two Japanese words: “Rei” meaning “wisdom of the universe” and “Ki” meaning “life-force energy”. Reiki can be defined as ‘life-force energy guided by universal wisdom’ or ‘spiritually guided life-force energy’. 

Ki (also known as Qi, Chi, Prana) is a vital, life-sustaining energy which flows through all living things. It flows within the physical body through pathways called chakras and meridians, and around us in a field of energy called the aura, nourishing the organs and cells of our body. A disruption in the flow of Ki is the main cause of illness. Ki is responsive to our thoughts and feelings – all negative thoughts and feelings will collect and restrict the energy flow and functioning of physical organs at various locations throughout the body and aura. Reiki is a gentle and effective way of tapping into high vibrational energy guided by a higher intelligence, it knows exactly where to go and how to respond to the restricted energy flow, breaking through energetic blockages and promoting healing.

Reiki is a safe, natural and very powerful healing technique which can be helpful in a wide range of physical and psychological conditions and works successfully as a complement to other forms of treatment. Reiki addresses illness and injury at its source, aids recovery on all four levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – and adjusts so that each person receives exactly what they need at that time. Aside from its value in relieving pain and restoring function, it also initiates improvements in attitudes and clarity of thought, and in quality of life. It is unusual for Reiki not to be helpful in some way. Sometimes one treatment is sufficient, but often several are needed and the benefits emerge gradually. Anyone requiring Reiki treatment for a medical condition should also consult a qualified medical professional. If you are taking medication for a long-term condition and receiving regular Reiki treatments it is recommended to have regular checks with your doctor in case medications need to be changed, reduced or eliminated because of the results of the Reiki treatment. 

The session will be most effective if you are comfortable so please wear warm, loose-fitting clothing. There will be blankets on hand should you not feel warm enough during the treatment. Sessions will last either 30 or 60 minutes and will begin with a brief chat about your health and the reasons for your visit so that we can set intentions and tailor the treatment around your needs. 

You will normally be treated on a treatment couch though it is possible to work with you seated. There is no need to remove any clothing, except your shoes. After some gentle stretching I will scan over your body to sense if there are any areas where energy is blocked or out of balance that we can focus on remedying. I will place my hands lightly on or just above your body in a series of specific positions and direct Reiki through my hands, supplementing depleted energy, dealing with stress and releasing the body’s own recuperative abilities. All that is needed to receive Reiki is the desire to receive it. An awareness of the need for change and motivation to do so can also be helpful.

During a Reiki treatment you may experience sensations of warmth, coolness or tingling wherever the Practitioner’s hands are placed. Some people report seeing colours, dreams or visions, or find that long-forgotten memories arise. A tearful or joyful emotional release is not uncommon and some may find that their body shakes or their arms or legs suddenly jerk. These reactions are quite normal, and just indicate that Reiki is breaking through energy blockages, and the body needs to throw off the negative energy which has been encountered. You may not experience any of these sensations but simply feel pleasantly calm and relaxed. A state of deep relaxation allows physical, mental or emotional stress to leave the body, re-establishing equilibrium and a feeling of wellbeing. Reiki balances and works on all four levels – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – and adjusts so that each person receives exactly what they need at that time. 

A distant Reiki healing treatment works in the same way as if you were actually in my home studio and is just as beneficial. Energy is not confined by time or space and can be channelled anywhere in the Universe! Before the session starts I will contact you to make sure you are ready to receive Reiki - it is recommended to find a quiet space to lie down, listen to some calming music and hold the intention "I am open to receive whatever it is that I may need at this exact moment in my life". I will connect to your energy using a photo, name and location and the Reiki energy will flow where it needs to go. I will contact you again when the session has ended and will be happy to discuss any feedback afterwards. 

At the end of the session, you will be encouraged to discuss your experiences and will also be asked to provide further feedback one week later. All information given by you will be treated as strictly confidential. You will probably want some quiet time after the session so please factor this in when planning your day.

A unique blend of Reiki energy and the therapeutic power of drumming, Reiki drum technique is a powerful and transformative practice, offering deep healing on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. Steady, rhythmic drumming carries Reiki energy deep into the body and energy field. The vibrations from the drumming help to break up stagnant energy and remove blockages, while the Reiki energy restores balance and promotes healing.

Benefits include deep relaxation, emotional release, enhanced healing, mental clarity, energy balance, spiritual growth and pain relief. There are three different Reiki drum treatments which are chosen based on the client's preferences and needs – we can discuss what's best for you during your initial consultation. Each session will start with setting an intention, focusing on specific healing goals.

Reiki drum healing – intuitive drumming to deliver a deep healing treatment, focused on any issues highlighted. The session ends with 'hands on' Reiki to integrate the healing.

Reiki drum mental and emotional reprogramming – intuitive drumming blended with powerful positive affirmations to help overcome bad habits, focus the mind on important matters, or achieve specific goals. Drumming facilitates the energetic shift necessary to positively affect the subconscious mind. The session ends with 'hands on' Reiki to integrate the healing.

Reiki drum journey – a meditative or trance-like state induced by rhythmic drumming and supported by Reiki energy which helps to release any blockages and integrate any insights received as you access your subconscious mind. This technique is exceptionally empowering and healing on all levels, facilitating personal healing, accessing your inner wisdom and tuning into spiritual insights and guidance. It is important to enter the journey without expectations and be open to whatever happens for your highest good.

There are some good practice guidelines and precautions to consider for your own wellbeing, please refer to "Is sound healing safe and suitable for everyone?" for more information.

Sound healing is the application of sound through the voice and instruments with the intention of bringing the mind, body and spirit into harmony and balance. 

The body is made up of energy vibrating at different frequencies. Illness is caused by disharmony within the body, mind and emotions. Sound healing stimulates the body's natural healing mechanisms and helps to bring the body, mind and emotions back into harmony with the soul or spirit. Read more

Sound healing (including Reiki drum technique) is recognised as a safe, low-risk holistic therapy but there are some good practice guidelines and precautions to consider for your own wellbeing. Sound healing should be used to complement medical treatment. You should never discontinue your medical treatment or medicines without permission from your doctor. A sound healer is not a doctor and therefore will not diagnose or treat any specific illness. If you have a medical problem, you are advised to seek professional medical help. If you require life-saving medication, such as an Asthma Inhaler, EpiPen or Insulin, please ensure you have this with you during the session.

Sound healing may not be suitable for everyone. You are responsible for your own wellbeing and healing journey, if you have a medical condition and unsure whether sound healing will be suitable for you, please contact me directly with any concerns and consult your doctor for professional medical advice. The following advice applies to both individual and group sound healing sessions.

Sound healing is NOT recommended (I will not treat you) if you:

• Are in your first trimester of pregnancy
• Have Epilepsy or suffer from seizures
• Have a severe mental illness such as Psychosis, Bi-polar disorder, Schizophrenia
• Have broken or fractured a bone within the last 3 months
• Have received a hip or joint operation within the last 6 months

You should consult your doctor before attending sound healing for the first time if you:

• Are pregnant (second or third trimester)
• Have a mental health condition such as PTSD, anxiety or depression
• Have Meniere's disease, tinnitus or an ear infection
• Have metallic rods, pins, staples or screws in your body
• Have a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, artificial heart valves, cardiac arrhythmias, stent or carotid stenosis
• Have a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device or shunt

Sound healing instruments will not be used directly on or very close to the body if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have received surgery in the past 3 months
• Have a pacemaker, defibrillator, stent or shunt
• Have metallic implants or artificial joints
• Have Osteoporosis
• Have Cancer
• Have Chronic inflammation such as Crohn's disease, Colitis
• Have open wounds
• Have deep vein thrombosis in the leg or known thrombi
• Have an inflammatory skin condition like psoriasis or eczema

Sound healing is a deeply immersive, full-body listening experience, still beneficial to those with limited hearing as you feel the sound vibrations in your body. If you wear a hearing aid, some sound frequencies may cause buzzing or whistling, so for your own comfort you may want to turn it off or remove it for the session.

To give sound healing to a child under 16 years old I require written permission from a parent or guardian and they will need to stay in the room with their child during the sound healing session. Children aged over 10 years old are welcome to attend my group sound healing sessions, if they are able to stay quiet and still for the duration of the session so as not to disturb other participants. Children of any age are welcome to attend private group sessions or events.

I have previously noted some precautions to consider for your own wellbeing, based on my own training and further internet research. Sound healing has been used for centuries and has numerous benefits but research into risks is limited and inconclusive, therefore please exercise caution and consult a medical professional if you have a medical condition and unsure whether sound healing will be suitable for you. I have stated below some reasons why precautions are required for certain conditions:

• Pregnancy – due to the greater risk of miscarriage in the first three months. It is also worth considering at any stage of pregnancy that any sounds will be amplified for the baby so it is advised to avoid prolonged exposure, loud and continuous sounds.
• Epilepsy or seizures – for sound induced epilepsy in particular, sound vibrations may trigger a seizure.
• Mental health – sound healing can elicit deep memories, emotions and thoughts so you need to ensure that you can manage these experiences.
• Broken bone or hip operation – advised to wait until bones have knitted together and fully healed. 
• Meniere's disease, tinnitus or an ear infection – your condition may become temporarily worse.
• Metal implants or medical devices – there is a chance that as intense vibrations pass through your body the metal could shake and move, causing injury or malfunction of the device. For this reason, instruments will never be placed directly on or within 20cm of the body.

A one-to-one sound healing session facilitates a deeper introspective journey, with a heightened state of relaxation and self-awareness. It is a tailored experience where instruments can be chosen based on the client's preferences, sensitivities and needs, targeted healing addresses any specific concerns and instruments can be played on the body to enhance the overall sound experience. 

A group sound healing session is less personalised than a one-to-one session, but the group's shared energy creates a sense of unity and connection among participants, the collective resonance generated can amplify the vibrations and lead to a deeper state of relaxation, and participants can connect with others who share an interest in holistic well-being. Group sessions are typically more affordable and accessible to benefit from sound's therapeutic effects.

I offer private group sound healing sessions for up to four friends or family members to experience together in the comfort of my home studio. These sessions are longer and more personalised than large group sessions usually held in an external venue and can be tailored to the group's preferences, needs, sensitivities and the experience they are seeking.

Whether you choose to experience sound healing in a one-to-one or group setting will depend on your preferences, needs and the experience you are seeking on your healing journey, but both options offer unique benefits for your wellbeing.

The session will be most effective if you are comfortable so please wear warm, loose-fitting clothing. There will be blankets on hand should you not feel warm enough during the treatment. Sessions will last around 1hr and will begin with a brief chat about your health and the reasons for your visit so that we can set intentions and tailor the treatment around your needs. 

You will normally be treated on a treatment couch though it is possible to work with you seated. There is no need to remove any clothing, except your shoes. After some gentle stretching I will scan over your body to sense if there are any areas where energy is blocked or out of balance that we can focus on remedying. The treatment itself will vary depending on the type of instruments chosen and the overall focus of the session. There will then be a period of silence to allow you to integrate the healing sounds, after which I will gently bring your awareness back into the space and ensure you are grounded through guided sounds.

At the end of the session, you will be encouraged to discuss your experiences and will also be asked to provide further feedback one week later. All information given by you will be treated as strictly confidential. You will probably want some quiet time after the session so please factor this in when planning your day. As most people feel deeply relaxed after a sound healing, it is not advised to drive long distances or go back to work afterwards. Alcohol and recreational drugs disrupt the body's natural equilibrium and weakens the energy field around us, therefore it is recommended to avoid alcohol and recreational drugs for at least 24 hours before and after a treatment to better integrate the healing effects.

The session will be most effective if you are comfortable so please wear warm, loose-fitting clothing. You will normally lie on a comfortable mat on the floor of a dimly lit room. For small group sessions held in my home studio I will provide blankets, pillows, linseed eye pillows and yoga mats for your comfort. For large group sessions held in external venues you will need to bring your own blanket, pillow and a comfortable mat to lie on. 

As I need time beforehand to set up my equipment and cleanse the space in external venues, please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before the start of the session. The session will start promptly, if you arrive more than 5 minutes late you will be denied entry so as not to disturb other participants.  For small group sessions held in my home studio it's fine to arrive no more than 5 minutes before the start of the session, everything is set up so it won't take long to settle in and we won't start without you.

Group sessions generally last around 60-90 minutes and will begin with a brief introduction to sound healing and what to expect, followed by an opening meditation to set intentions and lead you into a relaxed space. You will then immerse yourself in soothing waves of healing vibrations as you experience the sounds created from a wide variety of instruments, the effects of which will depend on the overall theme (relaxing, balancing, transformative) and the group energy being held in the space. There will then be a period of silence to allow you to integrate the healing sounds, after which I will gently bring your awareness back into the space and ensure you are grounded through guided sounds.

At the end of the session, I will be available while I pack up my equipment if you would like to discuss your experiences with me. As most people feel deeply relaxed after a group sound healing, it is not advised to drive long distances or go back to work afterwards. It is important to stay hydrated so you may want to bring a bottle of water with you. It is recommended to avoid alcohol and recreational drugs for at least 24 hours before and after a group session to better integrate the healing effects.

The power to heal and path toward healing are within each of us. A sound healing session can help you to connect with your inner healing power and all healing is self-paced. When you have finished your session, you will feel deeply relaxed. When your body relaxes, your immune system is boosted and your body is more able to heal itself. Your attitude will make a big difference to the success of the healing – the more committed you are to your healing process, the better the response.

Those receiving sound healing often report experiencing an expanded state of awareness particularly in the period of silence within the session. During my sound healing sessions clients have reported seeing colours, images or memories, experiencing sensations such as heat, cold, stomach gurgling, twitches, tingling, ripples of energy or a floaty feeling, having a tearful or joyful emotional release which are all signs of energetic shifts as balance is restored.

Sound healing has the power to affect our whole being – our physical, mental and emotional state. Following my sessions, clients have reported eliminating pain, hormonal changes, improved sleep, a boosted immune system, being more energised, empowered, brighter in mood, and much more. While the majority of clients often have a positive experience, sometimes deeper more negative emotions arise such as feelings of sadness, grief or the resurfacing of traumatic past memories. A deep release of unresolved emotions or clearing of stuck energy may also result in a temporary headache, aches and pains, dizziness or nausea. 

I will create a safe space where you will feel comfortable to explore and process any emotions, thoughts and feelings that come up during the session, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you are able to manage these experiences, are ready for positive change and have the right support network around you in the days afterwards to assist with your healing journey.

Any temporary discomfort is caused by your body trying to heal and rebalance itself, old symptoms and feelings may reappear as the body clears out old energy and some symptoms may get worse before they get better. With most people this process generally takes 2-3 days and during this period you should drink plenty of water to help release toxins and take it easy to give your body a chance to heal itself. If you are still feeling discomfort after 5 days, please get in touch with me. If you suffer from mental health issues and there are lingering emotions after a session, please also contact your doctor or mental health specialist for professional support and guidance.

Most people need more than one sound healing session to get their body into balance again. I recommend that you initially have three one-to-one sessions, weekly or fortnightly if possible, then review your progress at the end of these three sessions. After the first three sessions, you may decide to have regular monthly tune-up sessions to maintain a state of balance as part of your wellbeing routine. 

You will need time to integrate the sound healing received from one-to-one or group sessions, so it is not recommended to attend more than one session in a week. 

To maximise the effects of a sound healing or Reiki session it is important to engage in thoughtful aftercare. Aftercare is a personal process, and what works best for one person may differ from another, trust your intuition:

• Hydration – helps your body process and integrate energetic shifts.
• Avoid alcohol or recreational drugs – by maintaining a clear and sober state you can better integrate the healing effects and connect with your higher self.
• Nourish your body – incorporate natural, high-vibrational foods into your diet to support your physical health and facilitate a more positive and higher energetic state. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, wholegrains, fermented foods, cacao.
• Rest and relaxation – allow yourself the space to unwind and absorb the experience, maintain a sense of inner peace through meditation, pamper yourself with self-care rituals like a warm bath, aromatherapy, or a soothing cup of herbal tea.
• Journaling – record your thoughts, emotions and any insights that emerged during the session which can be used for self-reflection and personal growth. Expressing gratitude for the experience and positive effects on your well-being can amplify the benefits.
• Positive affirmations – repeating simple but profound statements have the ability to transform our mindset and shift our energy, such as "Wellness is the natural state of my body. I am in perfect health".
• Gentle movement – stretching or a slow walk can help with grounding and maintaining a connection with your physical body. Practices which coordinate body, breath and mind, such as Yoga and Qigong, can enhance your energy flow and total wellbeing.
• Connect with nature – recharge your body with healing earth energy by grounding in your favourite green or blue space: hug a tree, walk barefoot or lie on the ground, and disconnect from electronic devices. 

Chrissy is a qualified Sound Healing Practitioner. She has trained with The College of Sound Healing and has completed the following Complementary Medical Association (CMA) accredited Practitioner training courses and additional sound healing workshops:

• Sound Healing with the Voice Practitioner Diploma with tutor Simone Niles (October 2022 – July 2023)
• Crystal Bowl and Himalayan Bowl Practitioner Diploma with tutors Rob and June Dickerson (May 2023 – November 2023)
• Working with crystals using the keys of sound weekend workshop with tutor Ruby Larimar (30 Sep & 1 Oct 2023)
• How to run a group sound bath weekend workshop with tutor Ruby Larimar (6 & 7 Oct 2023)
• Reiki Drum Practitioner weekend workshop with tutor Liz Whittall (19 & 20 Oct 2024)

Chrissy is a Practitioner member of The College of Sound Healing and is committed to fulfil at least 20 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) a year to develop and improve her professional practice.

Chrissy is a certified Usui Reiki Practitioner, initially completing level 1 with Margaret Cook in January 2020, then revisiting level 1 in July 2024 and continuing on to level 2 in October 2024 with Samantha Whittaker of The Chakra Room, Ramsbottom.

Chrissy has successfully completed First Aid Plus training with ProTrainings, an industry body for first aid training. Certificate issued in May 2023 and due for renewal in May 2026.

Chrissy has a UK Practitioner insurance policy with Holistic Insurance Services for all services offered by The Retune Room.

From my home studio in Bury, Lancashire, I offer:

• One-to-one Reiki and distant Reiki healing sessions, 30mins for £25
• One-to-one sound healing, Reiki drum technique or Reiki sessions, 1hr for £45
• One-to-one sound and Reiki healing synergy sessions, 1hr 30mins for £65
• Private group Reiki drum journey for 2-4 people, 1hr 30mins for £50
• Private group sound healing experience for 2-4 people, 1hr 30mins for £70

Participants of personalised one-to-one sound healing sessions can choose between voice, crystal singing bowls, Himalayan singing bowls or gongs as the main instrument of choice. Participants of private group sound healing sessions can choose the theme in advance and which instruments will be the main focus of the session. Other instruments may also be incorporated into the sessions to facilitate healing. Personalised one-to-one Reiki sessions can focus solely on Reiki or include elements of sound healing, if preferred.  

I also offer group sound healing and Reiki drum journey events at Greenmount Old School Community Centre with upcoming dates shown on the booking page. Please get in touch to discuss pricing if you would like me to facilitate a private group wellness session for you and your friends, family, colleagues or customers in your own space.