It’s 7.15pm on a school night, and the sun that’s been baking the city since morning has dropped behind the horizon, bathing the beach in a honey glow. The echo of the day’s warmth laces the air, whipped up by the late summer wind. We’re 15 minutes into a sound bath hosted on a Coogee rooftop, and I am – quite literally – floating away.
Aqua Sculpt’s sound baths are the second event series from the Sydney-born wellness company, who began by offering floating Pilates classes at magical locations around the city (they now also operate in the Gold Coast, with their Sydney events mostly held at Cranbrook School in Rose Bay and Crowne Plaza Coogee). The concept is essentially exactly what it says on the tin: wellness classes that you complete on water, from the comfort of a floating board.
For context, a sound bath is a wellness practice that uses audio frequencies (typically made from traditional wind or percussion instruments) to make humans feel good – it's basically like a facial for your mind. Although the main thing you'll notice post-bath will be a sense of calm, sound baths are also thought to help reduce anxiety, depression, stress and fatigue.
This sound bath was a truly transcendent experience: an hour-long session facilitated by sound and reiki healer Elizabeth Wittingslow and hosted by Aqua Sculpt founder Nina Hirschfield. On arrival, we were each given a carefully-curated bag filled with healing goodies and a hot cup of herbal tea, then guided to a floating board or a comfy lounger around the pool. By the time we were woken up from our semi-slumber, the sun had set and stars were beginning to punctuate the sky. I left the hotel in a daze – my busy brain having retired from its duties as soon as the first gong rang out through the air.
If you’re more into moving your body than your mind, Aqua Sculpt’s Pilates Classes are for you: fun, dynamic classes hosted at various locations around the city.
The next sound bath will be hosted at Cranbrook School on Thursday, February 13, with Pilates classes hosted at various times throughout the week and private sessions available to book on request. Interested? Check out the Aqua Sculpt Instagram page for an idea of what to expect, and book your floaty moment over here.