A recent participant in an online Sound as Medicine workshop led by Phyllicia Victoria through the Omega Institute described the experience as deeply calming. The individual, who has been facing a difficult period over the past 18 months, said the workshop offered a new tool for managing stress.
During that time, the person traveled across the country multiple times to support a father undergoing brain cancer treatment, while also homeschooling an eldest son, adapting to shifts in their professional field, and coping with estrangement from a close family member. Prior to the workshop, self-care routines such as walking in nature and reading in the bath helped maintain balance. After the workshop, the person stated that sound baths should become a regular part of that routine.
The workshop facilitator, Phyllicia Victoria, is described as an artist, yoga teacher, reiki practitioner, and sound healer. According to the participant, Victoria began leading sound baths after discovering how sound helped settle her own thoughts and quiet mental chatter. The participant noted that the combination of Victoria’s soothing voice, uplifting words, and the resonant, hypnotic sounds created what was called a transcendent experience.
Following the sound practice, the group was guided through gentle movements and stretches, then invited to journal about what came up during the meditation. The participant wrote a list of words that came to mind: release, peace, spaciousness, ease, clarity, calmness, gratitude. Then wrote: “I felt a deep sense of relief from the stressful thoughts that had been gripping me earlier. The sound transported me in a way words alone could not. I felt the vibrations deep within my body, and it felt like they were cleansing me of the noise of my own mind and creating space to just be, without judgment.”
During the session, other sounds from the environment—such as a father moving around and turning on a faucet—prompted the participant to think: “No judgment—just new sounds.” The person reminded themself to hear those sounds mixed in with the calming tones of singing bowls and chimes, then release them without thinking they should not have been part of the experience. The participant reflected that this is a useful practice for everyday life, as people often hear more dissonance than harmony, and training the mind to hear dissonance without getting lost in the story of it allows one to shift focus back to what is beautiful and healing.
The journaling ended there, and the participant decided not to listen to the question-and-answer portion of the workshop in order to remain in the space created internally. Sound baths, according to information the participant has read, can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and help relieve tension and physical pain. After the session, the person reported feeling deeply relaxed physically and mentally, and better equipped to handle whatever might come in the day ahead.
The participant expressed gratitude for a recent partnership with Omega Institute, noting that the organization offers a page of free resources specifically for the Tiny Buddha community. Among the workshops that caught the participant’s eye for the summer at Omega’s campus in New York are: “Get Healthy with Sound: Tuning Forks & Voice for Vibrant Health,” “The Journey Inward: Frequency, Neuroscience & Longevity,” and “Holotropic Breathwork: Sacred Geometry & the Healing Nature of Mandalas.”
Additionally, the participant recommended workshops previously highlighted, including Omega’s emotional resilience workshops that focus on training the mind for a better life, healing from betrayal and toxic relationships, and more, as well as Omega’s nervous system regulation workshops that cover accessing neuroplasticity and healing the nervous system. The person noted that if they could attend an in-person workshop at this time, they would do so, describing the campus as a true sanctuary for meaningful connection and deep healing. The participant encouraged others feeling similarly to explore the free resources and to share their experiences if they decide to take a workshop.
