The use of Himalayan Singing Bowls for the purpose of physical and music therapy, meditation, and sound application is a widely
used practice in clinics and centers throughout the world. Many people have experienced their direct benefits including Drs.
Andrew Weil and Mitchell Gaynor, who have written about them. In the West, their uses and applications have been documented
by hundreds of websites and user personal experiences. Many people, especially in times of personal crisis or transformation
have reached out for them, but the labyrinth of information that people must navigate can be confusing or misleading. This
website is offered as a means to establish a database of qualified practitioners who have been trained and certified in the
uses of Himalayan Singing Bowls. Their training included factual histories, cultural methods including Asian metallurgy practices,
indigenous applied techniques, modern adaptations, and personal mentoring by one of the few westerners who actually studied
and lived in the Himalayan region. The list below outlines the level of training received, as well as contact points, and
serves as a recommendation for those that are seeking to make contact with qualified individuals in this art. It also qualifies
everyone who has actually been certified through the 9ways Academia, rather than people who say they were, clearing any misunderstanding
and establishing a high level of integrity.
The following list of names are endorsed by the 9ways Academia as students who have exceeded their necessary requirements
of training.
Ann Anderson - PA (bookspirit@msn.com)
Kathleen Baker - PA (www.lapisStudio-ManaolaLLC.com)
Bob Bednar - PA (r3b111@yahoo.com)
Linda Bonde - CO ( www.hallowvoices.com )
Frank X. DiCristina - MN ( frank@gratefuldowsing.com )
Phyllis Douglass - CA ( www.phyllisdouglass.com )
Deb Gdovin - PA ( deb@bodylogictherapy.com )
Vidura Groulx - Montreal, CA (vidura.groulx27@gmail.com)
Jan Hunsinger - PA ( janhunsinger@comcast.net )
Brian Q. Kilian - TN ( bkilian@bellsouth.net )
Douglas T. Koch - MA ( douglastkoch@comcast.net )
Constance L. Lewis - NYC ( havedarshan@hotmail.com )
Linda Linnemeyer - NH ( bogazeedie@hotmailcom )
Leslie Matilainen, LMHC - MA ( lkm9092@yahoo.com )
Kimberlee Moore, M.Ed., M.Ac., Lic.Ac. - MA ( info@KimberleeMoore.com )
Susanna Wesley Raike - PA ( snowtiger984@verizon.net )
Seth Ritter - TN ( seth@captionlink.com )
Taunya Laya Rivera, Ms - NYC ( www.mysecondbreathorg.blogspot.com )
Craig S. Shankster - UK ( craig.shankster@me.com )
Karen Stevens - TN ( km.stevens@live.com )
Dayananda Steward - NJ ( yogarightnow@gmail.com )
Judy Strauss - NV ( www.pathtobliss.com )
Stephanie A. Woods - MA ( www.thesingingbowllady.com )
Nancy Beal - PA ( www.harpandheart.com )
Guy Bieder - NYC ( guy.beider@yahoo.com )
Paul Campelia - NH ( paulcampelia@gmail.com )
Carol Joy Cannon - PA ( cannon.carol.j@gmail.com ) Lauren
Dize - PA ( laurendize@yahoo.com ) Francy Duska - NY ( francyduska@gmail.com )
Edie Elkan - PA ( www.bedsideharp.com )
Anne Elizabeth Evans - NC + PA ( www.streamsofsound.com )
Claudia Fennelly - MA ( cifennelly@me.com )
Robbee Fian, L.Ac - NYC ( tashidelay@aol.com )
Chelice Gilman - CA ( Chelice1@hotmail.com )
Elizabeth E. Hall - PA ( moopie321@aol.com )
Tina L. Harris - MD ( sepireshmaat@hotmail.com )
Eleanor T. Linwood - PA ( moopie321@aol.com )
Dennette Beth Myers - PA ( www.bodycentrichealingarts.com/practitioners.html )
Kanta Masters - CA ( kantamasters@gmail.com )
Carmen Pana - CA ( carmenpana@verizon.net )
Martin Avery Reed - OH ( metallikid85@hotmail.com )
Sha Renee' - NJ ( www.chakrashastudio.com ) JeanLu Ryersbach - PA ( ryersbach@verizon.net )
Virginia Sanchez-AinaLode - PA ( www.lotusofcompassion.com )
Robert H. Schram, PhD. - PA ( robs@barcprograms.org )
Scott Shepherd - CA ( scottshepherd@sbcglobal.net )
Renee Siemers - ME ( doveworks@gwi.net )
Stephen Terlitzky, L.Ac - NYC ( sfenning@aol.com ) Wendy Young - NJ ( www.princetonsoundschool.com )
The following list of names met the minimum number of
training hours for certification, plus accummulated additional hours of training; including followup sessions.
Vance H. Anderson - PA ( vanceand@msn.com )
Lumena Atherton - NY ( www.lotusflowerlight.com )
Kelly Bauer - PA ( kabpsych@verizon.net )
Tanya Kush-Sage - CA ( FollowThePassion@icloud.com )
Elesa Commerce - IL ( www.thedeepcalm.com )
Stacy Grove - NC ( sgrove@mindspring.com )
Prisilla Gale - MA ( www.sacredsongreiki.com )
Thomacine Haywood - IN ( www.restore-inc.com )
Wei Li Hsu - CA ( www.sfbaypsychiatrist.com )
Teri Ingle - OH ( www.soundenergywellness.com ) Lex MaCar - FL ( alex.macar@verizon.net )
Paulette Placek - NY ( sirtazman.1@netzero.net )
Rich Placek - NY ( sirtazman.1@netzero.net )
Maureen Purcell - PA ( info@purcelleng.com )
Brenda Sallee - FL ( sellsal@comcast.net )
David Sallee - FL ( sellsal@comcast.net )
Clem Taylor - MA
The following list of students met the minimum number
of training hours to complete their certification.
John Ananda - NM ( sevenwhistles@aol.com )
Lord Aritheus Aponte - MA ( rthsaponte@yahoo.com ) Susan Armiger - NH
Barbara Jean Louise Bangert - MA
Ellen C. Beardsley- NY ( Massagesk@gmail.com )
Jerry Bond - PA ( Gerry007@peoplepc.com )
Catherine Carija - MA ( ppoppette@hotmail.com )
Mark Caverly - CT ( marc.caverly@gmail.com )
Diane M. Cloud - PA ( nimbus109@comcast.net )
Pamela Ruth Collins - NH ( pamela.collins@merrimack.nh.us )
Marcia Cook - PA ( marcia_cook@verizon.net )
Deborah Corbin - MA ( deborahac@verizon.net )
Michael Crespi - ME ( mikecrespi@hotmail.com )
Ira Dressner, PhD - AZ ( idressner@nyc.rr.com )
Debbie Edwards - PA ( deb@warriormagician.com )
Rachel Goodkind - VA ( goodkindrachel@hotmail.com )
Susan Granata - MA ( susangranata@verizon.net ) Gordon Kuhne - TX ( www.sacredsingingbowls.com )
Blane Land - FL ( www.quantumtouch.com )
Mary Laughing Eyes - TX ( iambatty@yahoo.com )
Frank Lovecchio - PA
Nancy Lovecchio - PA
Mitchell McCann - NJ ( mitchell.mccann@aol.com )
Cindy McKeever - PA ( cindy.mckeever@verizon.net )
Nancy McNeely - MA ( www.celestialceremonies.net )
Marie Menut - CT ( www.vibrationalhealing.org )
Sue Barker Miller - ME ( firespirit@suscom-maine.net )
Craig Parian - MI ( www.evolvingshiatsu.com )
Calen Rayne - NC ( www.raynemaker.com )
Allen J. Repetz - PA ( fullcircle@enter.net )
Cathie Ryder - NH ( www.nhyogamatters.com )
Malcolm Shute - CT ( macshute2@aol.com )
Sada Anand Singh - CO ( zendo49@yahoo.com )
Beverly Stern - NJ ( beverly.stern@worldnet.att.net )
Kathleen M. Sterner - PA ( www.touchofheartandsoul.com )
Heather A. Strehse - PA ( hstrehse@netscape.net )
Donna Tilton - NH ( healthup@comcast.net )
Joa Agnello-Traista - CT + MA ( joaagnello@yahoo.com )
Deborah Karen Uller - MA ( deborahsalka@hotmail.com )
Dr. Michael R. Verrilli - MA ( www.theshamanspath.com )
Lorraine D. Weston - NH ( ldwcove@yahoo.com )
Mona Wind - MA ( www.lifeintegrity.com )
Mike Yurcik - NJ ( MikeYurcik@aol.com )
How do Singing Bowls influence the mind and body functions? Here is a snapshot of how these wonderful instruments work.
Gaining widespread use throughout the world, Singing Bowls ( aka Tibetan Singing Bowls ) have evolved as one of the most
popular tools used in sound therapies. Their uses, traditionally from the countries they originate from, varies from culture
to culture. For example, in the Himalayan regions, they are used by shamans and clergy from the Buddhist, Bon, and Sufi communities.
In India, they are used more as a meditational aide, and only recently, as a sound therapy tool, due to their popularity in
the West. Their use for healing in the Himalayas, is much older than their Indian counterparts, contrary to what is told on
the internet. Generally, in Nepal for example, Singing Bowls are not placed directly on the body, but over the past decade,
they have adopted this practice from the West. Sound is an ancient study regarding transformation in the East, and predates
western concepts by centuries. Oral traditions can date back nearly 18,000 years, and written transcripts have been found
in Turkey, and other countries extending all the way to Mongolia, composed over 1,000 years ago. Singing Bowls are also used
in China, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and Kashmir as Temple instruments. And we see the use of Singing Bowls in the
cultures of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Philippines, and Bhutan.
Western uses include meditation, which has nearly 100 healthful benefits from stress reduction to increasing blood flow
and lowering heart rate; to aiding the immune system and improvement for fibromyalgia and even psoriasis in patients who meditate.
So the mere act of listening to a Singing Bowl can be quite beneficial. Documented studies in Europe, show that the benefits
of using Singing Bowls as a massage tool, coupled with their sound benefits, supports medical treatments for abdominal and
digestive issues, heart conditions, damaged spinal discs and bone joints, and blood circulation issues. In Germany for example,
they are used by qualified therapists in obstetrics, retirement and nursing homes, schools, speech therapy, and working with
the handicapped and the care of the dying. Because traditional medical systems abroad, have included Singing Bowls in their
research studies, their employment as a healing aide is more widely accepted than in this country.
It has only been in the last 2 decades that a small number of controlled medical studies in this country, have looked
at Singing Bowls as a therapy. The environment of healing with these instruments is generally practiced by amateurs who believe
that just by hitting a bowl, they are somewhat qualified as a medical practitioner. This is nothing more than an illusion
on their part, and short changes the efforts by others who have sought out teachers who have studied abroad in the Himalayas
or Europe. It is not the mere hitting of a Singing Bowl that initiates transformation, but the application of Skillful Means
in conjunction with the Singing Bowls. A trained Singing Bowl practitioner is not just striking the bowl, but initiating an
intentional effort that has been handed down through centuries of Oral Traditions. This dynamic of Sound, Vibration, and Skillful
Methods can have a direct effect on people who have physical and mental health concerns. Singing Bowl therapy is an excellent
compliment to traditional therapies, including Naturopathic and Holistic applications. ( Please note, Singing Bowls did not
originate in Tibet, and very few were historically made there. So anyone who refers to them as Tibetan in origin, is either
misinformed or is using misleading information insinuating esoteric implications. The term ' Tibetan Singing Bowl ' is simply
the result of " branding " or semiotics ).
Because we hear not only with the ears, but the skin and bones as well, the vibrational effects and the harmonic sounds
can influence every aspect of the body including brain states. Their effect on tissue cells, and neural pathways of the brain
are just being understood. In Eastern medical circles, illness is looked at being 75 percent mental, which is a complete opposite
of how illness is looked at in this country. For the sake of argument then, if illness is 75 percent mental, then any agent
that can affect the nervous system, brain waves, blood circulation, heart rate, respiration, etc., would greatly influence
the mind. Through this action, the mind can then influence the patient's well being, encouraging a positive outlook, fortifying
resolve, and regulating bodily functions; including the production of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Is it any
wonder, that when patients facing life threatening illnesses who are hospitalized, receive mental health counseling? Singing
Bowls are capable ( by trained practitioners ) of influencing the Autonomic Nervous System, particularly the Parasympathetic
Nervous System which is our ' rest and digest ' response, in contrast to the ' fight or flight ' response. Stimulation of
the PNS decreases blood pressure, aids digestion, helps to metabolite sugar ( diabetes issues ), and can rest the mind to
the point where a deeper spiritual awareness can manifest. Dissonance studies using Singing Bowls, has shown to be effective
to children with ADD and ADHD. Certain techniques using Singing Bowls can produce magnetic effects which have been shown in
clinical studies to increase tissue phosphorylization, which aids in fibroblast proliferation and the healing of tissue. Magnetics
increases the level of alkaline phosphatase at fracture sites, which expedites healing of fractures. It affects the membranes
of red blood cells, decreasing rouleaux formation and increasing oxygenation of tissue.
To learn more about how Singing Bowls can help you, please use the contact points above to locate a qualified and certified
practitioner; or use the email link below to contact the 9ways Academia, the only North American study program led by an instructor
who was trained in the early 1970's in the Himalayas, and is regarded as an 'insider' by Nepalese and Tibetan academics.
Copyright © 2013 by 9ways Academia
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