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Good Vibrations

Reflexology: New Relaxation Method

Kathleen Lombardo, owner of Reflexology by Kathleen, is introducing a new method called sound and vibration therapy that will relax her clients. Pictured is Lombardo with one of her clients, Lynne Skop. P-J photos by Jordan W. Patterson

Reflexology by Kathleen is now offering a new way to relax in the form of sound and vibrations.

Kathleen Lombardo, owner of Reflexology by Kathleen at Fifth and Pine streets in the Medical Arts Building in Jamestown, is now introducing Tranquil Vibrational Sound Therapy by Kathleen to what her outfit offers. Lombardo, who is also the health science teacher at Clymer Central School and an instructor at Jamestown Community College, said she experienced this method of relaxation in February and felt she had to learn how to offer it to her clients.

Tranquil vibrational sound therapy is essentially, as described by Lombardo, healing through vibrational energy utilizing an ancient art of Himalayan singing bowls. Lombardo said the Himalayan singing bowls have been used for more than 5,000 years.

“I’m sold on it. It’s amazing,” Lombardo said.

In order to relax her clients through this method, they are asked to lay down on their back on a cushioned table in a dimly lit room. Four differently sized Himalayan singing bowls are used in the process. Lombardo said the goal is to influence an individual’s vibration and energy. Lombardo has gone through more than 20 sessions and has noticed results from them. She described the feeling as “total relaxation.”

“We’re all made up of vibrations,” she said as to why she believes the process works.

The client’s head is positioned between two of the four bowls before beginning the process. Lombardo initiates the relaxation by making the bowls sing and vibrate. She does this by placing a mallet on the edge of the top of the bowl and tracing the outside of it in a circular motion. The bowls then begin to vibrate and generate noise. This is repeated with the other remaining bowls.

Several of the vibrating bowls are also placed on the abdomen, chest and legs to further heighten the experience by vibrating the body. The bowls are then tapped by a different mallet covered with felt. The intensity at which the bowls are struck is reduced each time.

“What the bowls do is they put you in such a state like a sleep-state, but you’re not sleeping,” she said. “It’s the sound (generated by the bowls) that does it.”

She explained the noise being produced from the bowls triggers the brain to put itself into a state similar to REM sleep.

“We all need that,” she said. “That’s the recouping part. When your body gets in that (state) it then heals.”

Lombardo has been practicing on her clients and said she has received only positive feedback.

She said the practice helps individuals with anxiety, depression, physical pain and many other issues.

Before her training, she was in Buffalo when she witnessed other people having sessions of vibrational sound therapy administered.

“I need to know what this is,” Lombardo said to herself after observing other people experience sound therapy from afar.

In July, she participated in training classes in Buffalo in order to bring the relaxation method back to Jamestown. Lombardo and one of her friends spent three days learning the process from Kirk Jones, a certified sound therapist, from Vermont. Jones learned the relaxation process of sound and vibrations from Satya Brat, who is based in India.

Lynne Skop, one of Lombardo’s patients, spoke highly of reflexology and the newly introduced sound therapy. Skop said she was walking with a cane for some time, but after receiving the sound and vibration therapy she was able to walk without it.

“Now, I’m able to get around so much better,” she said. “It’s really been helpful for me and that was only two sessions.”

Lombardo is available by appointment at 499-3694.

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