Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Valerie Irons. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Valerie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My dad worked for the state department during the Viet Nam war and our family and I grew up (during elementary school) in Taiwan and Thailand from 2nd through 6th grade. Living in these countries completely opened my eyes to another way of life. Although we lived in a predominantly American community, I was thrown into the Chinese and Thai cultures, learning the history, customs and languages. I was enchanted with the cultures and their religions, often visiting temples and attending celebrations with our live-in staff. I loved this and I believe it opened my heart and mind to spirituality early-on in life. Our family was also lucky to have a home leave back to America every 2 years and we always went through Asia, the middle east and Europe on the way back. This travel brought me face-to-face and heart-to-heart with myriad people, cultures and religions. Like a sponge, I soaked up as much as I could from all of these countries.I was especially drawn to everything spiritual; temples, mosques, cathedrals…you name it. I believe that these years were instrumental in my own spiritual path guiding me toward of life of unity consciousness and worldly wisdom.
Valerie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a Sedona-based artist, sound healer and breathwork practitioner. In 2006, I found myself picking out my first crystal singing bowl. for the next 6+ years, it was just me and that crystal bowl singing my prayers every night in the living room. At the time, that was my way of connecting into God Source. In 2012, I stumbled into a shop that had a “Soundwave Bed” (a musical instrument with a monochord on one side and a tongue -drum on the other. The client lays on the ‘bed’ while I play it and the vibrations of the strings and tongue drum vibrate the body of the client allowing for deep relaxing and clearing oof the energy field). The owner of the store gave me a sample session and with minutes, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I created several powerful sound healing sessions using this ‘bed’ as well as a large assortment of other instruments. I have clients come from all over the world to experience the healing benefits of these sessions.
In about 2014, I also decided to get trained as a transformational breathwork practitioner. I have found that breathwork is one of the most important modalities that we can do to heal and access our divinity.
I purchased a yoga studio in 2019 (Aumbase Sedona) and expanded it to include sound healing and breathwork. We offer yoga on the beautiful red rocks of Sedona as well as Sound healing, breathwork and more, both in our studio and on the land.
In 2022, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to heal it naturally…no surgery, chemo or radiation. I dove into healing my body using various holistic treatments, from detoxing to 21-day water fasts to frequency modalities, emotional clearing, meditation and so much more. The tumor continues to shrink and I am thriving, living my best life. I enjoy being a resource to others who have been newly diagnosed with cancer, sharing a plethora of information about alternative and complimentary therapies.
I offer group as well as private retreats to those who are ready to up-level their life as well as training in both Sound Healing and Breathwork.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2022, it felt quite shocking. I immediately had to change my daily life and put all my energy into healing my body and mind. I spent months detoxing my body, my food, my cleaning supplies, my bath products, my clothes, my home and my mind. I took some time off work and created a daily healing protocol. That protocol has changed over the years, but I still keep my mornings for my self-care and healing. This took a load off of my nervous system and stress level. I slowly went back to work after many months, but didn’t get back into full swing until a year had passed. My work day at the studio doesn’t start until 1pm now (with an occasional 11am appointment). I also immediately hired an office manager to handle bookings for Aumbase Sedona, which immensely helped with stress. The important lessons here were learning to slow down and uplevel my self care. For three years, the tumor was growing ever so slightly (slowly), but I didn’t give up and I stood firmly in my knowing that my body had the ability to heal itself. Then, when I started meditating (Dr. Joe Dispenza) the tumor began shrinking. The first measurement showed shrinkage of 2cm in 2 directions. Six months later it shrunk another centimeter. Meditation has become a daily staple in my life, I don’t leave home without doing it. This whole unexpected experience has made me pivot in such a huge way. I had to completely change how I live my life. I had to change who I had been and become a better version of myself. And still, every day I am overcoming my challenges and becoming the best version of Valerie that I can imagine.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
I feel so blessed to have found my work and purpose in this world. The Japanese have a word called “Ikigai” which represents the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. I have found my Ikigai. I love guiding people to overcome their obstacles and become better versions of themselves. It brings me great joy to see a person transform right before my eyes, or to let go of stress and anxiety through sound and breath. I can’t imagine doing anything else in this world and feel as though I’ve been guided every step of the way to find myself in Sedona doing this work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ValerieIrons.com AND www.AumbaseSedona.com
- Instagram: valeriesanjali, aumbasesedona
- Facebook: Aumbase Sedona: Sound Breath Yoga
- Youtube: Valerie Sanjali Irons
Image Credits
The Narrative Lenz
Mark Short