Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Flores. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stephanie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

My story of this part of my path began as my marriage had imploded and I was going through my divorce. Years of stored emotions and trauma in my body was making itself known in severe body and emotional pain. I tried many things but yoga was proving to be the best for bringing peace to my mind and emotions, and allowing my body some healing. I decided to go into teacher training to get deeper knowledge of the practice, with no intention of teaching anyone else. While in teacher training I experienced my first sound healing with a single gong. I was blown away by the peace and deep rest I received in those few minutes. Shortly after, I found an event that was 1 1/2 hours long, with many gongs. That experience blew my mind and was literally otherworldly. My path was decided in those moments, I had to do this for others in the hope they felt what I did, had the healing that I received every time I experienced a sound healing session.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Continuing from the last question that touched on how I got on this path – I can expand on it though if you feel it would be best.

Shortly after starting yoga teacher training, a class was literally handed to me. I didn’t intend to teach, I didn’t think I wanted to teach. But there it was, so I did. I found I loved it and it lit me up. During teacher training the studio had a weekend long gong training and I purchased a gong from the instructor. I started playing my 1 gong during savasana (rest period at the end of yoga class). It became quite popular, many folks coming to class just for that gong!

A year later I decided to purchase 3 more gongs and I happened upon someone selling a full crystal singing bowl set. I bought it all, which was terrifying to spend so much money as a single parent! I started having group sound healing events that I called immersions because it was becoming so much more than just a sound bath. They are immersive experiences, fully enveloping the body with various tones and vibrations. As the years have gone by the events have been growing larger in attendance. I keep upgrading my instruments and expanding my offerings to now include gorgeous, large, custom made gongs and best on the market crystal and Himalayan singing bowls, curated so that the sound is perfect together. A shamanic drum, Native American style flute, crystals, and other items have been added with intention for their aesthetic to help create a sacred container for healing.
Instruments are continually being added as I find unique offerings to include.

I am truly excited to be in the process of opening a healing space to provide individual sessions (and small group) that can be customized to what the person resonates with, for example some prefer all gongs, some prefer all singing bowls, as well as the use of tuning forks, a foot singing bowl, smaller flutes that can go on the body, a heated FAR infrared amethyst mat to lay on, essential oils, etc. The options are limitless in one on one work.

I feel like this journey, this path is just opening up for me. I get excited when I find something else I can bring in, to use either in a group setting or one on one. The response from folks that come to my events, the experiences they have, the feelings and sensations they feel. All of it just lights me up, there are no better words to describe how it feels.

In addition to the sound vibration healing sessions that I will have in my private healing space, small group and private yoga, meditation, moon/empowerment circles will be offered as well. I plan to bring in other healing modalities and systems as I grow and expand.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m not sure this is a lesson to unlearn so much as I’ve had to learn to trust myself, to be confident that I am bringing something unique and different, even if others are doing similar, it won’t be like I do it or have my energy with it. Overcoming imposter syndrome, learn my self-worth. It isn’t easy and I still have those worries and doubts on occasion but that is happening less and less.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I feel like my entire life has been one of resilience but I feel that way about everyone. Not one person on this planet hasn’t had many challenges and difficulties. I could list all that I have, it is more than some, less than others. I bring that understanding with me when I interact with everyone, especially in my events and one on one sessions but I try to have that compassion with everyone day to day. Life is hard and we are all doing the best we can with the coping skills we’ve acquired and the healing we’ve done. I think it is why I am so passionate about what I do, we all have so much healing to do. Whether we need to practice self-care to rest and recoup or to allow layers of trauma to come forward to release and heal.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alchemysoulempowerment.com
• Instagram: alchemysoulempowerment
• Facebook: Alchemy Soul Empowerment
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Payton Steele for all but the last 3 Christa Angelo for last 3