I am new to Sound Therapy and Usui Reiki, what should I look for in a practitioner?

To make sure that you have the best possible experience, take the time to find and choose a practitioner with whom you feel comfortable and who meets your standards. You'll want someone who clearly describes the process and how he or she structures the session so you have an idea of what to expect. Your actual experience is very subjective, but knowing what your practitioner will do next will help you relax into his or her care. 

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Betty is fully trained, insured, registered, and operates at the highest of standards in all facets of client and community care strictly adhering to this Professional Code of Ethics. She is also certified and registered with the Shibumi International Reiki Association. Betty upholds the vision, mission, and philosophy of Shibumi and also adheres to their Code of Practice and Ethics. 

 

Is there an intake process?

Yes. All clients of record are required to complete an online Client Intake Form. It is sent via email when scheduling. This form needs to be submitted 48-hours before your first appointment and is updated yearly unless circumstances require that it be updated sooner. (i.e. A major change in health status.) Please kindly note that missing Client Intake Forms will result in the need to postpone your scheduled appointment. This policy is a requirement of licensure and is noted both here on this website and in all studio-client communications. As a courtesy, reminders are sent out via email and text prior to the 48-hour deadline if your form has yet to be received. 

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A new appointment cannot be rescheduled until your Client Intake Form is completed. These protocols are implemented to keep clients and practitioners safe at all times. ​Please be advised that if your appointment has to be postponed due to a missing Client Intake Form, it will additionally be treated like a late canceled appointment and you will be charged 50% of your scheduled session fee.

 

What can I expect from a private client session?

When you arrive at the Gentle Earth studio, you can expect to enter a safe space of unconditional love without judgment. Betty is a fully vaccinated and boosted practitioner and will wear a face-covering during your time together. You are welcome to do the same if that makes you feel more comfortable. Time will be spent explaining the flow of the session and Betty will give you an opportunity to share any needs or accommodations you would like implemented during your time together. When the session begins, you will lie fully clothed on a therapy table with organic sheets and blankets that can be heated to your comfort level. Betty also has a range of soft bolsters that can be placed under your knees to support your back and legs. Your job is to relax, breathe, and allow - allow yourself to experience whatever it is you need at this moment.

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Betty will be moving about during your time together and it is always her sincere intention to do this as quietly as possible with little to no distraction. Please know that she will softly communicate with you if she needs you to roll over or adjust your body placement, such as moving your feet or lifting your arm. If at any time you begin to feel uncomfortable during your session with how you are laying, you are welcome and encouraged, to adjust YOUR body as needed. Betty wants you to feel extremely comfortable and relaxed during your time together as this session is all about YOU! 

 

What should I do to prepare for the session?

Clients who are unvaccinated or boosted are required to wear face-coverings during their appointment and should have these properly affixed before entering the studio. Plan to arrive 5 minutes early wearing relaxed, loose-fitting clothing. If possible, please wear a pullover shirt free from any zippers or buttons. Upon arrival, you will be asked to remove your shoes and use hand sanitizer. If you are wearing a belt, earrings, or long jewelry, Betty will have you remove these items before beginning your session. Additionally, you may want to bring a filled water bottle with you for use after your appointment is over.   

 

As a client, what is my role during our time together?

Receiving Sound Therapy or Usui Reiki is a wonderfully passive experience. Betty will invite you to make yourself extremely comfortable and just settle into the flow of the session; you may wish to softly close your eyes and focus inward. Your state will shift quite naturally as the session proceeds. Meanwhile feel free to daydream, enjoy the sound/music, or simply observe your breath. If you can settle into a quiet meditative state as your session unfolds, this can greatly enhance your overall experience.

 

What will I experience during my Sound Therapy session?

Clients report effects ranging from meditative states to deep relaxation. During a session, the body will go through noticeable changes as it responds to deeper states of rest. Relaxation during Sound Therapy brings the same kind of mental state as yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation. Muscles will lose tension, and one may even start to slip into the alpha brain wave pattern. The alpha wave pattern is associated with daydreaming and pre-sleep. Breathing and heart rate will begin to slow down, and the body will begin to absorb the waves into its tissues. This relaxed state allows the body to repair itself instead of responding to outside concerns. The immune system is at its best when in a state of relaxation. 

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What will I experience during my Usui Reiki session?

The experience of Usui Reiki is subjective, changeable, and sometimes very subtle. Clients often experience heat in Betty's hands, but sometimes report her hands feel refreshingly cool. Other common experiences are subtle pulsations where Betty's hands are placed or cascading waves of pulsations throughout the body.

 

People often comment on how comforting they find the experience of Usui Reiki to be. An interesting study reported that recipients frequently feel that they are hovering in a threshold state of consciousness, simultaneously aware of their surroundings and deeply indrawn. Some people fall into a deep, sleep-like meditative state. Sometimes the experience of Usui Reiki is dramatic, while for others, the first session, in particular, may be uneventful, although they feel somehow better afterward. The most common experience is an almost immediate release of stress and a feeling of deep relaxation.

 

What happens after a Sound Therapy session?  

Most people feel extremely relaxed, sometimes even euphoric. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness, and greater productivity which can last for days. Since metabolical wastes are released from your soft tissues during a session, it is recommended you drink plenty of water afterward.

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What happens after a Usui Reiki session?

Betty will not give you any type of diagnosis or offer you a "physic reading," as that is not part of the traditional Japanese practice of Usui Reiki. You will want to drink plenty of water after your session and try to limit heavy activity for the next few hours. Although people typically leave a Usui Reiki session feeling refreshed, occasionally some notice feeling a little more tired in the evening than usual. This is not viewed as an adverse reaction, but rather as the body's natural response, something to be heeded. 

 

What are the benefits of Sound Therapy and Usui Reiki?

All modalities of Sound Therapy and Usui Reiki can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, and reduce blood pressure. They are also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and create an overall sense of well-being.

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What modalities of Sound Therapy does Gentle Earth offer?

Betty offers Singing Bowl Therapy, Gong Therapy, Monochord Therapy, Tuning Fork Therapy, and Sound Bath Meditation.

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Is Sound Bath Meditation a form of entertainment?

If shared in the truest form, it should not be. Sound Bath Meditation facilitators are not performers. Rather, they work to utilize various instruments as tools to facilitate a shift in the participant's consciousness. When properly executed, the result is a slowdown of your brainwaves, shifting from a more active state (beta) to a more relaxed dreamlike state (alpha).

 

This experience is not a concert in the way a traditional music concert requires your attention and observation. Sound Bath Meditation strips away the condensed structural elements that music has such as rhythm, arrangement, and performance. It's not about analyzing any of these elements; it is facilitation into a deeper state and an opportunity to unplug from this hyperactive reality to gain perspective with what's going on within you. And if you enter this experience with the intent of analyzing what instruments are creating the sounds, it could ultimately take longer for you to settle into that relaxed state.  

 

Do participants react differently to sound and vibration?

Our mind, body, and spirit hold the energetic imprints of all of our experiences, and sound vibrations have a way of shaking things up. Because of this, Sound Bath Meditation can induce a sense of bliss, remarkable peace one minute, and a feeling of unease the next. If these emotions do arise, it's happening because the environment is promoting a release, so just breathe through it rather than letting yourself be submerged in it. Bring your attention to the rhythm of your breathing. Tune into your deep inhales and deep exhales.

 

Are all Sound Bath Meditations created equally?

Unfortunately no. This experience can be very powerful, so you should make sure that any facilitator you visit has fulfilled the rigorous study of Therapeutic Sound Methodology. Even though some musicians and DJs might have the best intentions when they use phrases like "sound healing" or "sound bath" to promote their events, it's extremely important to understand that facilitating such a profound experience should not be about an individuals’ desire to express themselves to an audience. A good facilitator knows how to relinquish the notion of self in favor of serving the community in a selfless way.  A well-studied facilitator knows how to create and hold a safe space while introducing the power of sound.

 

Do I need to know how to meditate before scheduling a Sound Bath Meditation?

Absolutely not! What's so remarkable about these beautiful sessions is that even first-timers can accrue their benefits. After all, everyone has a relationship with sound. The sound is immediate and it has a way of having a direct impact on our whole being. Not to mention, Sound Bath Meditation doesn't require the discipline that traditional meditation often does. So, you do not have to be a well-practiced yogi or self-care practitioner in order to have a profound and positive experience with sound. In fact, Sound Bath Meditation can serve as a gateway to these practices by introducing you to what it feels like when calmness enters the mind.

 

How do I get the most out of holistic modalities such as Sound Therapy and Usui Reiki?

Sound Therapy and Usui Reiki are wonderful modalities to quiet the mind, and considering how overstimulated we can be, regularly introducing a calming experience can definitely have a positive effect on our well-being. Each experience will differ depending on your feelings and surroundings, and each session will teach you more about yourself. Sometimes you might have a visual experience, and other times it may affect the way you feel emotionally, or even distort your perception of time. All of these contribute to your personal growth and balance in body, mind, and spirit so establishing a regular self-care practice using these modalities can be extremely beneficial.  

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How many individuals can be part of a Sound Therapy or Usui Reiki session?

Regretfully, due to space limitations Gentle Earth cannot accommodate couples/groups in our home studio. All private client appointments are 1:1.

 

How frequently should I schedule a Sound Therapy or Usui Reiki session?

There is no set guide to how often someone should receive Sound Therapy or Usui Reiki. Some clients come bi-weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly. All contribute to an overall improvement in health and balance in mind, body, and spirit. Remember, you needn't have something “wrong” with you to benefit from a session. This is an opportunity to plug into a source that replenishes you with deep love, grace, and peace.

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Tell me about Usui Reiki Distance (remote) sessions.

Usui Reiki can be given remotely. Distance sessions are an energetic process that can be best explained through the principles of Quantum physics. It has been proven to be extremely effective, sometimes even more effective than local, hands-on support. Quantum physics shows us that everything is made up of energy, and everything is connected. Everything is part of the same, continuous whole. Long-distance healing is “wireless” healing. We accept that cell phones, televisions, and even our garage door openers work in this wireless way. It’s not much of a leap to accept that all energy travels that way, including the energy of Usui Reiki.

 

Recipients of Usui Reiki Distance Sessions report the same sensations as recipients of the hands-on experience, such as a sense of heat or tingling in certain parts of the body, a sense of calm and peace, and a deep sense of relaxation. 

 

What forms of payments are accepted for sessions?

Gentle Earth accepts major credit and debit cards and valid gift certificates at the time of booking. Regretfully, sessions cannot be paid for at the time of service. Full payment is required to schedule an appointment.

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What are Gentle Earth's business hours?

Betty offers private client appointments Monday-Thursday, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM. (Last appointment of the day starts at 3:30 PM.) Regretfully, weekend appointments are no longer available.

 

Private client cancellation policy

24-hour advance notice is required when canceling an appointment. This allows the opportunity for someone else to schedule an appointment in your place. If you are unable to provide 24-hour advance notice, you will be charged 50% of your scheduled appointment cost. This applies to first and second cancellations. The full amount of your appointment will be charged for the third time and beyond. This amount must be paid prior to your next scheduled appointment. NOTE: If you have a gift certificate and do not provide 24-hour advance notice when canceling your appointment (phone call, text, or e-mail), it will be redeemed as payment.

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No-shows. Anyone who either forgets or consciously chooses to forgo their appointments for whatever reason will be considered a “no-show” and will be charged for the full amount of their “missed” appointment.

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Late arrivals. Appointment times are as scheduled and cannot extend beyond the stated time to accommodate late arrivals. If you arrive late, your session will be shortened in order to accommodate others whose appointments immediately follow. As a courtesy, Betty will wait 20 minutes into your scheduled appointment. If you do not arrive within that window of time, your session will be canceled. Regardless of the appointment length, the full charge of your session will stand. Out of respect and consideration for this practice and other clients, please plan accordingly and be on time.

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Postponement of Scheduled Client Appointments. Incomplete or missing Client Intake Forms will result in the need to postpone your scheduled appointment. A new appointment cannot be rescheduled until Gentle Earth receives your Client Intake Form.

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Sound Therapy and Usui Reiki are not appropriate care for infectious or contagious illnesses. Please cancel your appointment as soon as you are aware of an infectious or contagious condition.

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