

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael and Jahna Perricone.
Michael and Jahna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
We came into this quite organically, although it did take a few years. We’re both musicians and have worked in many different musical genres but had never performed together… although we’ve been married forever! I (Michael) became fascinated with the Himalayan singing bowls many years ago when I attended a mediation that used the bowls.
As a sound engineer, I recognized that the bowls had sonic qualities that defied conventional acoustic properties. I began to research and experiment playing the bowls, and the more I played them, the more I experienced the very deep transformational and calming effect they have. I then developed a method to play multiple bowls simultaneously (even patenting a special embedded sound system to pick up individual bowl tones and harmonics) and began bringing my bowls to yoga classes where I would play the bowls for Savasana (final resting pose).
During that same period, I (Jahna) became fascinated with Mindfulness meditation because of the profound sense of contentment and confidence I experienced long after the practice. I’ve been a singer and singing teacher for many years and have experienced performance anxiety that had been hindering me. I began to realize that Mindfulness was helping me calm the anxiety and I became more present and real, enhancing the whole performance experience. The other thing I noticed was that my creativity began to blossom! (Scientific studies have shown that certain Mindfulness practices enhance creative thought and processing)…
Suddenly, new ideas and melodies began to flow through me in a way I hadn’t experienced since my teenage years! I even resumed songwriting and began writing and arranging music using the Tibetan singing bowls. All this inspired me to delve deeper into Mindful meditation practices and I became certified as a UCLA Certified Mindfulness Facilitator through the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC).
As it happens, we found ourselves playing with our two passions at home and soon were blending them together for events, workshops and classes. We were so pleasantly blown away by the positive response we received and the amount of fun we were having together! It is such a joy for us to be able to offer these healing practices while also discovering newer and deeper levels in our own relationship!
Now we are presenting workshops and Sound Baths across the globe. We’ve been fortunate to play at the Getty, Fowler and Hammer Museums, for the International Eco Film Festival in Paris, World Festival of Sacred Music, Immersive Dome Theaters, USC, Loyola, UCLA, Mystic Journey Yoga and in Greece, to name a few. In fact, we’re excited to be returning to the Greek islands this fall for a weeklong retreat that we’re co-hosting with Den Senior Teacher and UCLA CMF and Mindfulness Counselor Heather Prete. October 6-13th 2018 on the Island of Ithaca. All Inclusive (even boat transports) *note Airfare not included.
Mostly, we’re thrilled to be able to do what we love together. Knowing a great benefit it offers to people, including ourselves, just makes it that much sweeter!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Well, it’s been a steady climb upwards luckily; however, we have had some challenges!
Comes with the territory, right?! Look, one reason we love LA so much is because of all the creative people and opportunities that are available in this city. On the other hand, it’s directly because of this abundance that getting our events to stand out among the plethora of all the other great activities can be difficult.
The other challenge we’ve faced is learning to maintain calm and centered while enduring LA traffic and all its uncertainties. Then, of course, we have all our instruments and sound system to carry and set up. This takes time and patience. In fact, it has become its own meditation practice!
Michael and Jahna – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our workshops and soundbaths are called ‘Savoring The Soundscape’. The intention of our events is to create an immersive experiential journey that helps build open awareness as participants uncover, discover and nurture their own personal contentment and confidence. During this unfoldment, senses begin to heighten and we’re better able to enjoy and savor life’s experiences!
We cultivate this space by blending Mindful meditation and vocal toning with the transformational sounds of ancient singing bowls, gongs and chimes. The experience is challenging to describe in words because it is so visceral to each individual. To begin, participants bring their bodies into a very relaxed state and then, when they begin vocal toning themselves, they experience an inner massage. Vibrations that are emanating from their own voice begin to move into all their resonating cavities, stimulating the brain to release oxytocin and other good feeling hormones!
Soon, they’re being bathed with the magical sounds of Jahna’s vocal toning over singing bowls. This culminates in an extended sound bath using as many as 40 ancient Tibetan Singing Bowls with multiple Gongs and chimes.
The results have been fabulous and amazing! Practitioners of our workshops have reported the removal of years of chronic pain, amazing visual journeys of color, shapes and stories and feeling a profound sense of well-being. When we were in Paris, one practitioner revealed that this was the first time she felt her anxiety lift since the recent terrorist attacks. Her gratitude was palpable, as was ours!
What sets you apart from others?
There are many ways people express themselves with sound. Our interpretation and what sets us apart from other sound baths is how we blend the use of Mindfulness meditation, voice and singing bowls together. The innate knowing that is crafted into these Himalayan artifacts coupled with our musicality creates a harmonious connection to our past and the lineage of those who came before us.
When people come to our events, they experience a journey within. Because of the synergy of our lives together and the way we communicate in this immersive musical expression we feel we are fulfilling our purpose to bring healing of mind, body, and soul to the participants as well as ourselves.
Pricing:
- Luxury Room Single – $2700.00
- Yurt Luxury Double (Twin Beds) – $1700.00
- Luxury Stone House Single – $2700.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jahnamusic.com
- Email: michael@omstream.com
Image Credit:
Nir Livni, Jenny Deveau
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