Inside Our Sound Healing Workshops with Louise 🌙

We recently sat down with Louise, our wonderful Sound and Rest Facilitator, to chat about her nourishing workshops at Trika — and honestly, we could talk with Louise all day.

Louise radiates warmth, care and calm, which is exactly why her sound healing sessions feel so safe, supportive and deeply restorative. Her workshops create space for genuine rest and nervous system relaxation — something many of us are craving in the midst of busy modern life.

We also know that when life feels full, being intentional with how you spend your time matters. If you’re curious about sound healing, sound bath workshops, or simply looking for a way to slow down and reconnect, this Q&A with Louise offers a deeper insight into her approach, what to expect during a session, and how sound and rest practices can support your overall wellbeing.

For Louise's upcoming workshops https://trikayoga.co.uk/pages/workshops

Tell us a little about you!

"Hi, I’m Louise. I run Soundology Sessions. I first got into yoga back in 2015 just looking for a bit of flexibility, but I ended up finding something much more - a way to actually quiet my mind when life felt like too much. Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and sound healing made such a massive difference to my own stress and anxiety that I felt a real pull to train in these practices so I could share them with others and help them find that same sense of a 'reset' button."

What exactly is a sound bath?

"It’s basically a way to get deep rest without having to 'do' anything. You just lie down and let the sound waves from the bowls wash over you. If you’ve never tried it, think of it as a chance to completely switch off. You don't have to focus on a teacher or a movement; you just listen and let the vibration help your body relax. Played correctly, the sounds help you drop into your parasympathetic nervous system, your 'rest and digest' mode. Brain waves slow, the body softens, and that is where the magic happens. If you give your body the chance to rest, it has the opportunity to heal."

What happens during a Seasonal Workshop at Trika Yoga?

"We follow a simple three-step process to help you get out of your head and into your body:

• Yin Yoga: We do floor-based poses that we hold for a few minutes. I’ll show you exactly how to do them and give you plenty of time to find a version that feels right for your body. Yin isn't always perfectly comfortable, but it’s about learning to sit with that quiet and stillness we so rarely get in normal life.

• Yoga Nidra: This is a guided relaxation where you just follow my voice. We use breath awareness and a simple intention, a Sankalpa, that fits the time of year, such as the theme of 'letting go' associated with autumn. Also called 'yogic sleep,' Yoga Nidra drops the body into a hypnagogic state between wakefulness and sleep. It can often include visual sensations, such as seeing colors or imagery, and feelings of weightlessness. If you go a little deeper and fall asleep, that’s totally okay, it’s just what the body needs in that moment.

• The Sound Bath: You lie back and I play the bowls and chimes to help everything settle in. The sounds start off slow and rhythmic, entraining the brain waves to mimic and slow the pace, before I bring in harmonies designed to evoke feeling and emotions related to the season."

What instruments do you use?

"I use a mix of instruments to create different emotions and 'vibes':

• Himalayan Metal Bowls: These are earthy and grounding. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, metal is one of the key elements, so these bowls bring a sense of 'weight' and stability to the session.

• Crystal Bowls: These have very clear, singing tones. They can be played to feel uplifting or to bring in a little dissonance, which helps with processing difficult emotions or 'stuckness' in the body.

• Chimes: I use four Koshi chimes tuned to Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. They sound like delicate wind chimes and help bring the feeling of the seasons into the room. I also use bar chimes, which bring a beautiful, ethereal quality to the session.

• Ocean Drum: This is a really powerful tool I like to use at the end. It sounds like crashing waves; it’s the one instrument people always ask about and love."

What are the benefits for stress and sleep?

"It’s all about moving the body out of 'stress mode' and into 'rest mode.' It physically slows down your brainwaves. People tell me all sorts of things after a session—some get pain relief, some have huge bursts of creativity, and almost everyone says they have the best sleep of their life that night. It’s a very personal experience; no two sessions feel the same."

Why do you focus on the seasons?

"Because we aren't meant to be 'full speed' all year round. In our workshops, we use Yin poses that target specific 'meridian lines' (energy lines) related to the organs that need support in that season. It’s about bringing awareness to, and mirroring, what’s happening in nature. We are part of it, and we aren't meant to be 'on' all the time; we need to change our pace, whether that’s slowing down in winter or blooming in spring."

What would you say to someone who’s a bit unsure?

"There is no way you can get this wrong. You don’t need to be flexible, you don’t need to be 'good' at meditating, and it doesn't matter if you fall asleep! I’ll guide you the whole way and offer alternatives for every pose. It’s just a really passive, easy way to give yourself a break. If you’re curious, just come as you are and give it a go."