Live music has long been a unifying thread in community building in Park City, and Mountain Town Music is taking their mission even further this spring with a series of live, musical sound-bath sessions designed to offer group healing for people of all ages in Park City and Summit County.
Together with Utah-based Wild Women Tribe, which connects likeminded women in transformational outdoor experiences called WANDERS and transformational retreats, Mountain Town Music has created a “Sound Healing Series” intended to raise mental-health awareness and provide a space for community-activated healing. The series, which kicked off in February, presents live sound-bath healing sessions led by gifted, local practitioners in unexpected spaces in and around Park City including Kimball Art Center, Kiln, FulFILLed and Shamanic Twist Wellness Center.
Proceeds from each sound-healing event go to support a different local mental-health organization including Communities That Care Summit County, Connect Summit County, PEACE House and The Cole Project. Sessions include post-performance integration discussions around central themes including self-love, tuning into inner guidance, letting go and finding balance.
“Live music has a powerful effect on people, and bringing live meditative and healing sound journeys to our community is something that I hope will have a deep impact on our collective consciousness,” said Brian Richards, Mountain Town Music executive director. “We tend to consume live music in social and extroverted settings. But during difficult times, it can be transformative to have intimate listening experiences designed to heal and process deeper emotions.”
“Sound bath healing” refers to a live musical experience that evokes a state of deep relaxation, emotional release and processing through sound, vibration and energetic clearing. Using crystal and Tibetan bowls, chimes, sound makers, gongs and flutes, sound healers weave a rich tapestry of sound that takes the listener on a guided sonic, meditative journey that is unique every time.
WHAT TO BRING:
Participants are invited to bring a yoga mat, pillows, blankets, a journal, water bottle and anything else needed to fully relax into the experience. Organizers ask that participants please arrive 10 minutes prior to the session in order to get settled and in a comfortable space.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Slip into your most comfortable clothes and be prepared to be seated or lying down for the duration of the experience. Cell phones will be turned off and no talking or discussions will occur during the event. Organizers’ note: Sound healing meditations can often prompt strong emotions to surface. It is encouraged to take care following the experience to not be exposed to loud, busy, energetic surroundings.
Tickets for each event are $25, To register for the remaining events, email info@mountaintownmusic.org or visit the web at mountaintownmusic.eventbrite.com.
Monday, March 28: Healing Experience with Michael Porfilio
Immerse yourself in a spiritual sound experience led by Michael Porfilio, a master sound healer, producer, musician, teacher and DJ. Porfilio’s passion for music allows him to lead people consciously and intentionally through the session, which will benefit Peace House, a Park City non-profit dedicated to ending family violence and abuse through education, outreach, support services and safe housing.
When & Where: Session begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 28, at Kiln, located at Kimball Junction at 1090 Center Dr.
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Sunday, April 10: Sound Bath Meditation with Becky May
Holistic lifestyle coach and Salt Lake City resident Caralee Burton joins Utah-based physical therapist Becky May – also a holistic lifestyle coach, personal trainer and meditation guide – to this session that benefits Communities That Care Summit County, a nonprofit that aims to “improve the lives of youth and families by fostering a culture of health through prevention.” With more than 20 years of experience in the wellness field, Burton and May bring a unique approach to movement and meditation that provides clients with personal practices and techniques to help navigate the world – and their own internal landscapes – with more strength, creativity and peace.
When & Where: Session begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, at FulFILLed, located at 6699 N. Landmark Dr.
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Sunday, May 15: Healing Experience with Brooke Bishop
Utah-based Brooke Bishop is a shaman, sound-healing practitioner, reiki healer and certified RYT 200 yoga instructor, who splits her time between the Shamanic Twist Wellness Center in Kamas and a private location in Millcreek. Bishop specializes in helping people release trauma, stress, anxiety, limiting beliefs and looping patterns through various energetic modalities. This spring session will benefit The Cole Project, a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit designed to create a community for teens and young adults who have suffered the loss of a loved one, friend, classmate or peer. The Cole Project offers peer-to-peer support through music-based experiences for youth, ages 13-25, and focuses on eliminating health disparities and destigmatizing issues related to grief and mental health by partnering with youth and diverse populations to make support more accessible and useful.
When & Where: Session begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, at Shamanic Twist Wellness Center, 228 W. 200 S., in Kamas.
For schedule, registration and more information about the sound bath sessions presented by Mountain Town Music and Wild Women Tribe, visit mountaintownmusic.eventbrite.com.
