We spoke to Paola Calderon, a certified sound healing therapist about the way our bodies store emotions and how to liberate them. Sound healing is a holistic practice that uses sound waves to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The practice dates back to ancient times, when people used instruments like drums, gongs, and singing bowls to create vibrations that would resonate with the body and mind.
Our bodies are museums of memories. We keep our happiest memories to revisit over and over again, from the birth of a child, to their first steps, graduations, weddings and everything in between. These memories give our lives purpose. It’s what being human is all about. However, there can’t be light without darkness and our bodies also store the not so happy memories. The ones we often don’t talk about and keep locked up in a drawer. Whether you are beginning a new chapter, overcoming a difficult situation or dealing with trauma, becoming aware of your emotions is a challenging but rewarding first step.
One way that sound healing can be used is to address trauma. When someone goes through a traumatic event, their body responds to the perceived threat by releasing a surge of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. We go into fight or flight mode and it can lead to changes in the way the body responds to stress. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are also common consequences and can have a profound impact on physical health.
“Stagnant emotions manifest themselves in funny ways,” Paola said. “Sometimes knee pain isn’t knee pain but anger stuck in the body and the same goes with back pain, throat problems or digestive issues. Our physical health has a lot to do with emotions and the way we process them.”
Paola discovered sound healing on her personal healing journey and found it so helpful that she decided to become certified in order to share the magic. This is a particularly beneficial type of therapy because all you have to do is let your body do the talking. You start by setting an intention for the session, such as promoting relaxation or addressing a specific physical or emotional issue. Paola guides you through a meditation to help you get in a mindful state and plays the bowls, sometimes placing them on you to help the vibrations reach the feelings that are stuck in your body.
The path towards healing can look different for everyone. According to Paola, sound healing can be used to help people who have experienced trauma to process their emotions and to understand their experiences in a new way. By listening to soothing sounds and allowing themselves to be guided by the music, people can gain a new perspective on their trauma and can begin to see their experiences in a more positive light.
The trick is consistency. “Sometimes I’ll lead sessions for large groups and it’s a great experience. Everyone leaves relaxed and happy! However, there’s nothing like consistent one-on-one sessions to tackle the bigger issues” Paola said. “That’s the best way to figure out what emotion is stuck where and to really work to liberate it.”
This type of therapy allows you to go within, cherish the light in your life as well as the darkness by learning to feel the difficult emotions, recognize them and let them go. All you have to do is have an open mind, give it a try and let the sound heal you.
