We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristin Lewis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I have always been a woman of lists. Checklists for work, grocery lists, family to-do lists – my life has been a symphony of organized efficiency. At 48, with my only child off to college, I looked around at the life that I built for myself and felt a discontentment settle in. The lists, once brimming with purpose, had gotten much shorter, a visual reminder of the silence that settled into the house. My professional resume has a long list of impactful accomplishments but most that are devoid of the spark that gets me excited to get out of bed on a Monday morning. Now, with more time on my hands, I started to imagine the possibilities. I became overwhelmed with “what’s next for me?” I thought I was ready for the next step at work, maybe a promotion. But I quickly figured out that wasn’t the answer to finding the personal fulfillment I was searching for. That was simply what I was expected to do. And I was tired of doing what was expected of me. The spot behind my singing bowls was where I felt like the best version of myself. Not behind a computer. I knew I was brave enough to cross through any imaginary mental barriers I placed on myself anywhere else in my life, but sharing a private side of myself…out loud…in front of people…seemed like too much. I had this idea in my head that people who lead sound baths are not people like me. And worse, the idea of marketing myself made me nauseous. I had to tell people I play the singing bowls AND tell people I want to do it in front of people AND post pictures of myself with my singing bowls on my town’s Facebook page to get people to come to an event? The insecurity that prevailed in my brain was so unfamiliar, but I continued to ask myself “what if”. What if I made a website or an Instagram account to see what happens? What if I told the woman across the street that I could play for her and her girlfriends at one of their monthly mom’s night out events? What if I sent one email and offered to play at a local botanical garden? I decided to change every “what if” to a “why not?” And one by one, the “what ifs” turned into check marks on a list, except this was a list of possibilities instead of to dos. One step at a time, with a deep breath and a quiet strength that surprised myself, I pulled myself further and further out, into a space I didn’t think I belonged in. And not a person on this earth told me I didn’t belong. I made that up myself. As with starting any business, it isn’t easy. It’s a lot of investment of time, money and energy but I now hop out of bed early, excited about the potential opportunities of the day and filled with pride for realizing my own potential and shedding the idea of the woman I thought I had to be. Today, I have a small practice with a respectable number of clients who truly appreciate the experience the receive and are incredibly advocates, bringing friends and family to share the experience. There’s still a lot I want to accomplish so the bar keeps rising. But I’m fully confident I’ll get there and likely raise the bar again when I do.

Kristin, 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 list maker because I am a recovering overthinker. Additionally, I put tremendous pressure on myself, personally and professionally to achieve my goals. I had a career in the auto industry that I absolutely hated and had to report to 6 days a week in what was a very unhealthy work environment. I didn’t even recognize the woman that I was at that point. She was certainly not anyone I aspired to be. Searching for relief from the stress and unhappiness I was feeling, I started moving my body. Finding fitness to get control of my physical health. Then, I began to work on my emotional and spiritual well-being, eventually being introduced to one, small Himalayan singing bowl by someone from Nepal. As we talked, I explained how I tried meditation but had never been able to quiet my busy mind. I tried every app, meditation classes, You Tube videos, it just didn’t work for me. The woman told me to be quiet as she placed the bowl in my hand…and encouraged me to try to get the bowl to sing, by moving a suede and wood mallet across the lip of the bowl. I tried and failed. And tried and failed. This went on a few times for several minutes until I heard a beautiful tone and started to feel a subtle vibration throughout the palm of my hand. After several more minutes playing that small bowl, the woman asked me how I felt. My immediate reaction was “that was SO cool”. Then I paused and realized, while I played that bowl I wasn’t thinking about ANYTHING except that present moment. No groceries or annoying bosses. And I realized, maybe this is where meditation starts for me. I don’t have to sit cross legged on a mat in the dark for 30 minutes to meditate. Meditation can be any practice that places you in a mindful state, present in THAT moment. I purchased one small singing bowl and, since then, have grown my collection that I purchase directly from Nepal and a supplier that has taught me volumes about the bowls as well as the belief system and culture surrounding them. This has been a very personal journey for me but recognizing the benefits I experienced with my own practice could be shared with others, I began hosting sound baths for my family and closest friends. Hearing their reactions to experiencing my sound baths gave me the courage to put myself out there publicly and offer this service in my community.
Himalayan singing bowl meditation is a centuries-old practice originating from the Himalayan Buddhist tradition. It involves using metal bowls, typically made of a combination of metals like copper, tin, and silver, to produce resonant and soothing sounds. This form of meditation has gained popularity worldwide for its ability to promote relaxation, mindfulness, and overall well-being. During a Himalayan singing bowl meditation session, often referred to as a sound bath, the practitioner plays the bowls by striking or rubbing them with a mallet. As the bowls vibrate, they produce a rich and harmonic sound that can be deeply calming and therapeutic. The meditation practice typically involves focusing on the sound and vibrations of the bowls, as well as the sensations and thoughts that arise in the present moment.
The benefits of Himalayan singing bowl meditation are numerous:
1. Stress reduction: The calming sounds and vibrations of the bowls can help alleviate stress and promote a state of deep relaxation. It can soothe the nervous system and release tension, allowing the mind and body to unwind.
2. Mindfulness and focus: The meditative nature of this practice helps cultivate mindfulness, the ability to be fully present in the current moment. By focusing on the sounds and sensations of the bowls, one can enhance concentration and improve mental clarity.
3. Emotional balance: Himalayan singing bowl meditation can have a positive impact on emotional well-being. The harmonious vibrations created by the bowls can help balance and harmonize the body, promoting a sense of inner peace, emotional stability, and overall balance.
4. Physical benefits: The practice of Himalayan singing bowl meditation has been associated with various physical benefits. It can help reduce blood pressure, alleviate pain and discomfort, improve sleep quality, and support the body’s natural healing processes.
5. Spiritual connection: For many practitioners, Himalayan singing bowl meditation offers a pathway to a deeper spiritual connection and self-discovery. It can enhance one’s sense of interconnectedness, inner wisdom, and intuition.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My belief that I needed to look or speak a certain way in order to confidentially lead a sound bath was reinforced when I initially reached out to a few bigger yoga studios in the area I wanted to practice in. I was bluntly told by the owner of one yoga studio that I wasn’t a fit for his community. Not my bowls weren’t a fit. Not my practice wasn’t a fit. I wasn’t a fit. Not clearly understanding what he was getting at, I offered to conduct a session for him and his partner to experience my practice and then understand the fit but when he told me that wasn’t necessary, I instantly understood what he meant. This happened more than once. Instead of seeing the lines on my face and the curves on my body as credibility and authenticity for a practice he wanted to offer to his clients, he, more importantly, saw my physical body as not meeting the brand he wanted for his yoga studio. I left hurt, but understood the needs of his brand identity regardless of how flawed I thought they were. Most importantly, I didn’t let that stop me from offering my practice to someone else, eventually finding a space that was perfect for me and me for them.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I have learned not to be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to learn from the journey others have taken. In the beginning, I thought I had some niche business that no one else would understand so I didn’t seek mentors. What I learned is that regardless of the service or product, the journey we all take is quite common. The stumbles and falls in starting a sound bath business are very similar to those a now friend in a completely different industry took starting her small business. By nature, I’ve always thought I could do things myself. That way they are done how I want it and when I want it. But this work is tough and requires lessons from those that have walked the path before you. Rely on them. And people are happy to help.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stillnesssounds.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillness.sounds/