My journey.
Encounters, learning and the values that shape my practice.
Contemporary practice, cultural awareness.
My work is contemporary, but my relationship with these practices did not begin as a wellness trend.
My academic background in sociology and cultural studies taught me to look at practices within their wider cultural and historical context.
That perspective remains important to me.
When I encounter a practice, I want to understand:
- Where does it come from?
- What is its history?
- What does it mean within its original context?
- How has it traditionally been used?
- What am I qualified to transmit?
I believe contemporary practitioners have a responsibility not to strip practices of their history and meaning simply to make them commercially attractive.
Respect for tradition is part of professional integrity.
Encounters that shaped the practitioner.
My relationship with these practices has also been shaped by encounters that began long before SoundAtaraxia or Kukui existed.
As a child, I was introduced to the work of a French magnétiseur, an experience that stayed with me and contributed to my early curiosity about forms of healing that extend beyond conventional approaches.
Later, after a serious burn in Hawaii, I encountered the shaman of Oʻahu, whose approach became part of a profound personal experience for me.
I have also spent time with nomadic communities in the Sahara and, on International Women's Day, 8 March, I was invited into a village where men and women traditionally have separate public spaces. I was welcomed by the women's community to play drums with them and, remarkably, was also invited by the male village chief to witness and participate in a men's drumming ceremony.
Being able to experience both sides of a tradition that is normally separated by gender was a rare privilege and an experience I deeply value.
In Finland, I had the opportunity to learn joik, traditional Sámi chanting, from a renowned Sámi artist while making my own drum.
These encounters have taught me to approach cultural traditions with curiosity, humility and respect rather than treating them as techniques to be collected.
I have also studied Buddhist approaches to modern living in Nottingham, adding another dimension to my understanding of mindfulness, awareness and everyday practice.
Across these experiences, I have repeatedly encountered people whose knowledge is expressed not only through what they teach, but through the way they live.
That has had a profound influence on me.
The different parts of the journey are not disconnected.
My academic studies.
My languages.
Teaching.
Sociology and cultural studies.
Massage and bodywork.
Sound and vibration.
Meditation and mindfulness.
Emotional coaching.
Retreats and festivals.
My professional certifications.
My encounters with different cultures and traditions.
They have gradually shaped the practitioner I am today.
This is not a wellness trend I discovered. It is a path that has been developing throughout my life.
Experience meets responsibility.
These experiences continue to inform how I work with sound, touch, movement and emotional awareness. I bring professional training, curiosity and care to each individual session, workshop and retreat.