Spring Equinox & New Moon Sound Journey

Join us for a cosmic celebration that will resonate with and honor the Spring Equinox energies of balance, awakening, renewal, and rebirth! We will use a combination of sound healing, yoga, breathwork, movement/dance, and guided meditation to help you reset and prepare for the new season with clarity and intention.

This healing experience will be beautifully orchestrated from beginning to end with a handful of musicians from different walks of life. Rainbow will be leading a traditional Coast Salish spring flower dance with her drum and powerful voice to open the new season and celebrate the rebirth of spring. Ruby Koa will lead some gentle stretching, movement , and breathing (all beginner level, from both the hatha and kundalini styles of yoga) to allow the nervous system to prepare for the sound vibrations while Jay Darling plays his handpan drum and other instruments in the background. There will likely be a guided relaxation such as Yoga Nidra offered to settle you even further.

We are so blessed to have gong teacher and enthusiast Roger Tjoelker from Seattle who will be conducting the gong playing segment with Ruby and Elizabeth Clements to create a sound journey (at least 60 minutes long). There will be 3 planetary gongs, (Pluto, Sedna, & Moon, 2 Chau gongs, one wind gong), 5 Bilos, or planetary gong plates, ocean drum, and chimes. A variety of mallets will also be used to bring out the full spectrum of beneficial vibrations and frequencies. Just as a body massage works out tight and knotted muscles, the "sonic massage" of the gongs works out emotional issues that we need to release in order to move forward in life. The listener only has to let go and let the sound of the Gongs do the work. The experience is effortless and the results profound.

The sound of the gong creates deep relaxation, releases us from the torrent of thoughts our mind continuously generates and stimulates our glandular system to a higher frequency of functioning. While everyone has their own unique experience with sound energy, many have found it  to open pathways to relax, quiet their mind, balance energy, meditate, release emotional  tension, retune internal systems, have a spiritual experience, heal themselves, inspire  creativity, or feel a deep sense of peace. Our innate intelligence appears to use this type  of sound energy to promote well-being within.

When: Sunday March 19th, 4:00-6:30 pm

With: Ruby Koa, Roger Tjoelker, Elizabeth Clements, Jay Darling, & Rainbow Medicine-Walker

Cost: Cost: Early Bird Rate until 3/15: $44, $55 after. 15% off for monthly autopay members & Students w/ID. Email Ruby to get the code.

Location: Presence Studio, 1412 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225 (across the street from my old, Inspire Studio) The studio is just to the left of Bellingham Bar and Grill and is located upstairs. Allow for time to  find parking and please arrive 10 -15 minutes early to settle in.

What to bring: The floor is very hard and you'll probably be lying down for at least an hour, so if you'd like extra comfort, bring an anti gravity chair, heavy duty mat like a pilates or camping mat, a yoga mat, a pillow, an extra blanket (a limited amount of lovely silk eye pillows with optional lavender aromatherapy essential oils, bolsters and blankets are available to borrow but feel free to bring your own to be extra cozy,) water bottle, eye covering, optional colorful scarf for the dancing segment, and even ear plugs may be helpful in case you discover you’re sensitive to certain sounds.  

Each prop can have a powerful influence on your ability to relax and sink further into the rest & digest state, to receive the most benefit, so best to be prepared.

Tea and snacks will also be served after, but feel free to bring your own water bottle and/or thermos.  It’s important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids to help support your body release any toxins loosened by the sound currents.

About the Facilitators:

Ruby Koa:

Ruby Koa, founder of Inspire Studio has been teaching yoga in Bellingham since 2009. She offers a variety of classes including various forms of Vinyasa Flow, Gentle Flow, Yin, Restorative, and Kundalini Yoga. Her intention is always to teach from her heart, with an emphasis on accommodating you wherever you're at. Ruby’s aim is to cultivate a sense of community and she loves working with the divine feminine as well as the medium of sound healing. She has crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, a Chau and a Moon Gong. In addition to her Kundalini Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga 200 hr. certifications, she has completed a level 1 & advanced gong training and is now a 500 hour RYT.

Roger Tjoelker:

Roger, founder of Transformative Sound and Blosm studio in Seattle, is a professional gong player, instructor, and a Transformational Breath® facilitator.  Formerly a corporate CFO, he first heard the gong played well at a Transformational Breath® Seminar and instantly knew that he had to learn to play and bring this amazing sound energy to others. He offers group and private gong sound immersions and uses several gongs to provide a full spectrum of transformative sound energy.

Elizabeth Joy Clements:

First introduced to Sound by Ruby Koa, at Inspire Studio, Elizabeth knew the beautifully meditative but powerfully transformative energy immersion felt like meeting the embrace of a long lost friend, coming home, food for the soul.  This experience began her relationship with sound, which she continues to explore, currently, by learning and sharing the gift of sound and guided visualization with others.  Elizabeth is so thankful for the incredibly gracious and welcoming community of mentors and fellow sound travelers.  Why does she love sound?  One of the many reasons is right  after a sound bath, seeing people’s eyes light up with mystery, while listening to them share about their own unique sound journey.  For her, the intuitive nature and accessibility of the practice is a space full of curiosity, discovery and infinite creative potential! She can be contacted at: elizabethjclements2020@gmail.com 

Read about her gong Sedna here.

Rainbow Medicine-Walker is an enrolled member of the federally recognized Cherokee Nation. She is the granddaughter of Cherokee Admiral JJ Clark,  Chief Water Dweller and Chief Thunderbird.

Rainbow is an Elder, Veteran and Ceremonial leader with over thirty years experience in Spirit Warrior Trainings,  Individual and Family Healings and Public and Private Ceremonies for Special Events.  Rainbow has led ceremony for groups in Australia,  Finland,  Norway and Canada as well as closer to home here in America.

She can be contacted at: earthspiritministry@yahoo.com

Jay Darling understands that music is food for the soul. Jay has been helping people of all ages move and cut loose in the spirit of play for decades. Jay plays instrumental and body percussion, handpan, and vocalizations. He can be contacted at: jreclaim@gmail.com