Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicolas Sotomayor.
Hi Nicolas, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t get into sound healing for some altruistic, heal-the-world reason. Nor did I begin this journey as a means to make money. My WHY can be explained with a simple analogy of a friend sharing a song with you knowing that you would like it. Like when you hear a melody for the first time and it makes you feel a certain way, and you know exactly who would appreciate it. You share it with them instantly so they can feel the same way you do. THIS is it where my WHY comes from.
Six years ago, I had a transformative experience with a sound healer. I really resonated with the Himalayan singing bowls she played and I knew there was a deeper meaning somewhere, more than just the sounds they emit. So my genuine curiosity took me down a rabbit hole. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in audio production along with a few training and certification programs for sound healing. I explored sound waves and the therapeutic effects of certain frequencies and I decided to share them, not just with my friends and family, but to anyone who was willing listen. Anyone who needed to take a pause and drop their problems, at least for an hour. Anyone with a meat-covered skeleton floating on a rock in outer space looking for a deeper meaning to this experience we call life.
Today I feel blessed by being able to host sound healing journeys in LA. My wife/business partner and I have an amazing Japanese Zen-inspired Tattoo & Meditation studio (Inked Zen) on N. La Cienega Blvd. I also get to travel to the east coast quite a bit, providing my services to various venues and studios in the NY/NJ area on a monthly basis.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been a long journey and there were multiple times when I had to get out of my comfort zone.
How does one become a certified sound practitioner? How does one get clients? How do you reach out to yoga studios? How much should you charge for your services? Where should you buy your instruments? Unfortunately, none of this was learned overnight. I didn’t have a plan, but I knew what I wanted to do. It took lots of trial and error, networking with the right people, and just putting myself out there.
After 5 years of establishing myself in my own community, I decided to pack my bags and start fresh in LA. Not only was moving across the country a crazy idea in itself, it was also gamble because I knew there was way more competition out here with all sorts of sound practitioners. Ultimately, I had to look at it as an opportunity to grow and expand.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I facilitate meditative sonic experiences for groups and private clients. These are more commonly referred to as “sound baths”, although I hate to use that term. It’s a combination of meditation, breathwork and a listening experience, all with the purpose of creating a space for healing.
I am a certified sound practitioner and meditation teacher with over five years of experience. My meditation practice stems from Korean Buddhism at the Soshimsa Zen Center in New Jersey. I have studied the effects of sound therapy and auditory stimulation at The Integrative Sound and Music Institute Program in New York under the tutelage of Silvia Nakkach among various other instructors. I then completed my training at the Atma Buti Sound and Vibrational School with a certification in Singing Bowl Sound Therapy.
I play my instruments in a specific sequence that promotes a consciousness-transforming experience. A massage for the nervous system if you will. What makes my work unique is my background in audio engineering as well as traditional meditation. By combining all of these elements, I am able to speak on the different modalities and benefits of sound healing to both novices and experts in this field.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I always had a passion for music and sound. I learned about classic rock from my father. He introduced me to Pink Floyd and the Beatles. My mother on the other hand, was more into Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees. Throw in some real hip-hop from the 90s, and I would say I had plenty of music around me growing up.
Personality-wise, I was somewhat of an introvert. The quiet type that preferred to connect with others on an individual basis instead of being the life of the party. It took me about 30 years to discover my voice and present my authentic self to the world. I’m sure there was a correlation in my youth between frequently getting sore throats and having an imbalance in my throat chakra.
It wasn’t until my first sound healing class where I was able to tune into the power of my voice. There are many benefits to singing or humming to yourself. Not only does it lift your mood, but it also stimulates the vagus nerve, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Essentially we can retune ourselves like an instrument. That one class seemed to open up so many opportunities for me. All of a sudden, I was able to express myself and communicate clearly. This also led me to co-host a digital radio show with a good friend of mine for a brief time in my life. Finally, I was able to conduct and lead sound meditation sessions with the confidence I have today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://campsite.bio/
ninjanic - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ninjanickels/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ soundbathofbeverlyhills/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/@NinjaNickels - Other: https://inkedzen.com/
soundbathofbeverlyhills
Image Credits
Luis Rodriguez
