Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Bechtold (Ford).
Jamie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was in a yoga class in 2000 and the teacher played a gong at the end. I loved it and continued to go to yoga just to hear the gong! I felt my mind and body relax very deeply with the sounds and the effect continued after the initial experience.
I spent a couple years studying acupuncture, massage, and energywork, and eventually discovered sound healing. I came across a set of tuning forks and decided to add those into my massage sessions. My clients had incredible results and I found they relaxed much more deeply faster with the addition of sound into the massage. I began studying sound and energywork with various teachers and continued adding sound into my private sessions. When I learned that the gongs were called planet gongs and were tuned to the energies of the planets I set a goal to have them all! Once I had purchased 3 gongs I began holding soundbaths for groups – this was about 12 years ago. I started holding regular soundbaths at my home once a month and then grew from there.
Around 2011 there was a big wave of interest in soundbaths and I began playing 3-5 soundbaths per week all around L.A. In 2015 I opened The Soundbath Center (formerly known as The Sound Space) in Eagle Rock. I now hold events and soundbath trainings at the center, and at other locations around Los Angeles and beyond.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all – when I first started playing no one knew what a soundbath was and it was challenging to find places that were willing to host the event. I played out of my house and a couple studios for the first 3-4 years. Around 2011 and 2012 interest really grew and at that point I was doing a lot more soundbaths.
Please tell us about The Soundbath Center.
The Soundbath Center is the home of soundbaths in LA. I opened the center a couple of years ago (it was formerly called The Sound Space). We specialize in soundbaths with 12 gongs and crystal singing bowls. We use and play the highest quality instruments and aim to give people an amazing experience in sound. We hold premium events which take soundbaths to the next level as well – we add breathwork, crystal energywork, Reiki, and other modalities into the soundbath. The group size is small for these premium events and each person gets personalized attention. We also offer Soundbath Practitioner Trainings and sell gongs and crystal bowls.
The main thing that sets Jamie and The Soundbath Center apart from others is the amount of experience and the amount of instruments. Jamie has a collection of 18 gongs – most of which are called planetary gongs. Jamie combines the gongs in specific ways – and along with her playing style will offer a different feel to each soundbath. Each soundbath is unique and played for that group. Jamie has spent 12 years cultivating her unique and intuitive playing style.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in the desert and I loved laying outside at night and looking up at the stars. My mom would teach me the constellations.
Pricing:
- Public soundbath events range from $35-$60
- Private 12 Gong Soundbaths (up to 12 people) are $600
- Toneation™ Private Sessions are $175 for 75-90 minutes
- GongBlast™ Private Sessions are $150 for 60 minutes
Contact Info:
- Address: 4688 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041 - Website: www.sound-bath.com
- Phone: 323-839-6251
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: thesoundbathcenter
- Facebook: soundbathcenter
- Twitter: soundbathcenter
Image Credit: Photos by Keaton Koechli
