FACULTY & CLASSES 2024

Lea Garnier: Creating A Vibrational Doorway Into The Human Crystalline Field

The ancients (Shamans and Indian Rishis) knew that the human body has a subtle energetic system that can be accessed by the application of sound and intention.  When the crystal bowls, gongs, voice, flutes and other sacred instruments are sounded with healing intention and in a sacred way, they invoke a quiet peace that can still our minds and release stress from our bodies allowing us to relax and open to receive healing.  

In this session we will explore handling and playing techniques, specific areas of the body to clear, and how as living mineral kingdoms, our sound tools lovingly partner with us within our current expression and elevate us to our highest love potential vibrationally.

Lea Garnier has worked in the healing arts for over 25 years and is an established practitioner in the field.  She is an Upledger trained Craniosacral Therapist, practicing now since 1990.  In 2007 she became a certified yoga instructor trained in the Desikachar lineage, and co-founded Sage Academy of Sound in Woodstock, NY.  Lea is a student of the shamanic arts which inspired her ongoing interest in the use of therapeutic sound for healing, which led to the organization in 2011 of the first annual comprehensive SoundHealing retreat in the northeast, The SoundHealing Retreat Intensive.  Now in its 14th year, it is an ongoing platform created specifically for the pioneers of SoundHealing to come together and share their knowledge and wisdom, often resulting in deeply transformational experiences for participants.
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Silvia Nakkach: The Generative Voice of Medicine Melodies

Delving into acoustic subtleties and Silvia’s refined melodiousness, we’ll explore the ecstatic, the shamanic, and the contemplative energy of the voice through the cosmic beauty of the Icaros, Afro-Brazilian Orixà invocations, and the Ragas of India. The music-making will be accompanied by indigenous instruments, Crystal Tone bowls, and amazing new ways to play with the harmonic resonance of the sruti box. (Silvia is the foremost music psychotherapist who introduced the sruti box to the field, including Nada yoga and sound healing in the early 80s).

This session is designed with an emphasis on the mystical experience of sound. Through this liberating approach, the Voice becomes a conduit to enhance the sensibility of the subtle in the body and the mind, expanding conscious states, and reconnecting with the human’s intrinsic blueprint of joy and devotion, along with the spiritual engagement that follows.

Silvia Nakkach, MA, MMT, Grammy® nominated musician, composer, voice-culturist, author, and a recording artist. Named by Utne Reader magazine as one of 40 cutting-edge artists that will shake the art world in this new millennium. Silvia is a musician that has cultivated a voice that transports the listeners into the heart of devotion, a several times award-winning composer, former music psychotherapist, and a leading authority in the field of sound in consciousness transformation, and the implementation of music to convey expansion of consciousness, enhancing the sensibility of the subtle in the body and the mind to stimulate personal grow and a fulfilling practice.
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Angell Deer: The Ancient Practice of Ancestor Journeying and The Healing Power of The Drum

In this workshop we will explore the use and power of shamanic drumming to explore channeling sounds for healing purposes. Drums have been used for 1000s of years by shamans all around the globe to bring protection, to cure and to journey through the power of creating altered states of consciousness.We will learn how we can use journeying, drumming, and singing to bring very valuable information to heal ourselves and others and to channel healing energies into a client’s energy field. We will also explore how we can call upon the 4 directions, the 4 elements, and the Spirits associated with them to bring multiple energetic and spiritual layers into this work.

Angell Deer is an ordained minister, mystic medicine man, teacher, permaculturist, beekeeper, international speaker, and lover of all forms of life.  He has dedicated his life to remember, learning and teaching ancient wisdom through the lineages of Andean Cosmology and Norse Shamanism.  He is trained as a Veterinarian, Medicine Man, Breathwork Practitioner, Reiki Master, Mediation Teacher and Herbalist.  
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Katya Varlamova: Icaros & Andean Ceremony

In this workshop we will attune to the healing vibrations of the plant medicine as expressed through sound. We will learn about and experience plant medicine songs ("icaros") coming from the Amazon jungle. Each of them carries a unique frequency and serves a specific purpose during a plant medicine ceremony. We will have an opportunity to connect to the healing frequencies of plants though sound and medicine.

Katya Varlamova is a clinical herbalist, naturopath, plant wellness educator, and founder of the organic herbal wellness line Warmicita Herbals. Katya's journey with the plants started in back 2006. Just two short years later she was calling on their healing powers to help her recover from a devastating traffic accident. Lovingly and patiently, the plants helped her restore her physical body and held space for the much needed emotional healing to unfold.  

Ever since, they have been guiding Katya on a powerful journey of self-discovery and healing magic. Years of herbal studies, adventures and work have followed. They have taken Katya around the US, South America and Europe - growing medicinal plants, making remedies, practicing clinical herbalism, and holding plant medicine circles and retreats. In her work with clients Katya relies on the healing powers of Western herbs, precious teachings of TCM and Ayurveda, and magical gifts of the Amazonian plant medicine. When the work calls for shifts in the non-physical realms of being she frequently uses flower and tree essences, gem elixirs, guided meditation, inner child work, breath work, ritual and ceremony. Katya leads plant walks, hosts women’s circles, and teaches plant medicine classes & retreats in NYC, the Hudson Valley, the Andes and the Amazon.
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Scott Williams: Tuning Fork Perspectives

We will learn some tuning fork basics, and how to tune ourselves up (and others) with a few easy protocols.  We will discuss the difference between weighted and unweighted tuning forks and how just three different forks can create a complete SoundHealing system.  Students will have an opportunity to practice some protocols.   Please note, tuning forks and protocols are by Biosonics creator and sound pioneer John Beaulieu. 

Having worked for years as a successful Creative Director, Scott sought something with a deeper resonance. Liking the tone of sound baths, he decided to attend one at Sage Academy of Sound Energy in Woodstock, NY, on a whim. That experience was his big bang and first awakened him to the power of Sound.

With a deeper understanding of what good vibes meant, he felt a strong need to go deeper and, in 2015, decided to train with Sage. Since then, he's been working with them regularly to spread sonal sunshine. He is now part of the Sage Sound Sangha and one of their senior teachers. In addition to bathing in Sound, he recently added bathing in Forests to his offerings. Practicing as a Forest Therapy Guide has allowed him to work with new kinds of vibrational medicine and wisdom – that of nature. Much like Sound, it enables him to create more opportunities for people to meet themselves at the gate of their own healing paths with the support of something greater. He divides his time between upstate and Brooklyn.

Nicholas Pertrucco: Intro to Himalayan Singing Bowls and Conch Shell

The Himalayan Singing Bowls and Conch Shell, have very deep origins in the shamanic realms.  In this segment, you will gain a deeper understanding of how far back sound was used for healing.

Nick will talk about the fundaments principals of these healing sound tools from a s scientific perspective, as well as give practical applications and techniques for playing these two very ancient instruments.

Nicolas works as a scientist, sound healer, shaman and instrument maker.   His particular area of expertise are with Himalayan singing bowls and the Conch shell. One of the only makers, he has been tuning conch shells from all corners of the earth into sacred instruments for SoundHealing for many years.  He has studied with almost all of the Sage Academy pioneers for almost ten years, and now weaves many facits of expertise into his teachings.  

Lea Garnier & The Sage Sangha: Crystal Corpus SoundHealing Ceremony

When the crystal bowls and pyramids are sounded with healing intention and in a sacred way, they invoke a quiet peace that can still our minds and release stress from our bodies allowing us to relax and open to receive healing.  As they are crystalline in structure, they are by their very nature extraordinary tools for amplifying, storing and transmitting intentions of healing, love, and well being.  Because the structure of our bodies and DNA are crystalline in nature, we respond and resonate with the frequencies associated with the properties of quartz crystal in very deep and mysterious ways.