I Was Stressing Over My Romantic Life, So I Took A Sound Bath Class
My first introduction to sound baths was during the pandemic thanks to Jhené Aiko. If you follow her on Instagram, you may have watched her IG Lives in which she sometimes played music using Tibetan singing bowls. I didn’t think much else about it until a couple of years later when I was dealing with stress and anxiety. I’m one of those people who can sometimes get in my head and overthink everything and then become stressed and anxious.
This time, I was stressing over my romantic life and second-guessing myself about everything. While I typically turn to meditation and my friends and family, I decided that this was the perfect time to try sound baths. Luckily, a local organization that I’m a member of announced that our upcoming event was a sound bath class. A coincidence? I think not.
But you may be thinking, what is a sound bath? A sound bath is exactly what it sounds like. Participants are bathed in sound waves that are produced by healing instruments. Sound baths are a form of energy or spiritual healing practice that dates back 2,000 years to the region of Tibet.
I walked into the class that was led by energy therapist Ki Meishon and was looking forward to the healing that was supposed to take place. I was already anxious but I became even more anxious anticipating what will happen. The class was full and we each sat down on our mats and the class began. Ki came around to those who wanted an essential oil rubbed on them to help us relax (I was one of the people that had the oil) and then I laid down on the mat. With my eyes closed, I began listening to the different sounds surrounding me.
There were chimes, gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, and more filling the air (These tools are used as a form of healing). As I continued laying there, I let myself focus on the sounds and let them come over my body. While I really wasn’t paying much attention to the time, I think the actual sound healing lasted 15 minutes. Once it was time to open my eyes, I felt like a new person. The stress and anxiety were nowhere in sight and I felt rejuvenated. I felt lighter and my aura was more positive compared to when I walked into the class. The class also gave me clarity on how to move forward in my situation.
It was a beautiful experience and I would recommend it as a great healing tool.
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London Alexaundria is a writer and contributing editor for xoNecole. After graduating with a B.A. in mass media arts from Clark Atlanta University, London went on to work for several media outlets and started her own writing coaching business.
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'Power Book II: Ghost' Star LaToya Tonodeo Talks Breakout Role And Shooting Her Shot At 50 Cent For An Audition
Actress LaToya Tonodeo demonstrated the power of speaking up as she recently recalled how she secured her breakout role in Starz's Power Book II: Ghost.
The hit show, a spinoff of the original series Power, follows the journey of college student Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.) as he tries to escape his father's tainted image while running a drug operation.
In Power Book II: Ghost, Tonodeo portrays the role of Diana Tejada, the daughter of former kingpin Lorenzo Tejada and Monet Tejada, played by Mary J. Blige.
The series debuted in 2020 and became an instant hit as viewers were glued to the screen weekly due to its captivating storylines. Power Book II: Ghost is currently in its third season and has been renewed for a fourth.
Although Tonodeo has been a part of the entertainment industry for over a decade by appearing in various television shows and films, the 26-year-old's star shined a lot brighter after landing a role in Power Book II: Ghost.
In an IG Live with xoNecole, Tonodeo opened up about how her dream opportunity came to fruition and the rumor that she boldly asked Power's executive producer, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, to participate in one of his projects.
LaToya On Previously Working With 50 Cent
In last month's discussion, Tonodeo revealed that before landing Power Book II: Ghost, she was already working alongside Jackson for his Sony/Crackle series The Oath.
In the show, the actress played the character Tara Byrd. Tonodeo shared that as the red carpet premiere for the first season of The Oath occurred in 2018, she missed her opportunity to connect with Jackson because she was working on another project. But as fate would have it, The Oath was renewed for a second season.
In 2019, as Tonodeo reprised her role in the show and attended the red carpet premiere for the second season, she briefly chatted with Jackson, who at the time acquired the rights to the BMF story.
"Well, what's crazy [is] I was already on a 50 Cent show. So at that premiere, it's called The Oath. It was the season two premiere of The Oath on Sony/ Crackle, and he was there," she said. "Season one, there was a premiere, and 50 Cent attended. I wasn't there because I was doing The Fosters, and I'm like, 'man.' When I got to go to the season two premiere, I saw him, and it was around the time when he got the rights for the BMF story."
The Bold Move That Helped 'Powerbook' Star LaToya Tonodeo Land the Role
LaToya On Asking 50 Cent To Audition For a Role And Landing 'Power Book II: Ghost'
Tonodeo explained that during her conversation with Jackson, she congratulated the mogul on obtaining the rights to the BMF story and expressed her interest in wanting to be a part of the project.
Tonodeo added that although she is unclear if Jackson remembered their encounter or "if it meant anything," when a Power Book II: Ghost role came along, she auditioned and landed the job.
"I was like, 'Oh my God, like I want to be a part of it.' But I don't know why I did it. I just walked over there, and I was like, 'Hey, congratulations on getting the rights. I would love to audition.' I don't know why I did that. I don't even know if it meant anything or if he remembers or not. I do know that I did my thing in the audition, so yeah, we are here now," she stated.
Either way, with that story, Tonodeo has displayed the perfect example of "closed mouths don't get fed."
Power Book II: Ghost is now streaming on Starz.
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Feature image by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for STARZ
