Nancy Pettit has always been captivated by sound and loves sharing its healing powers with others. At Memphis Drum Shop — the well-established drum shop in Cooper-Young she opened with her husband, Jim Pettit, in 1987 — Nancy uses singing bowls, gongs, and an array of other instruments to facilitate Sound Journeys. This meditative practice promotes relaxation, stress relief, and physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
She describes her Sound Journeys as “a journey of discovery” that transports clients “into the depths of their being to discover their true essence through sound, vibration, and mindfulness.” We chatted with Nancy to learn more about her passion for sound therapy, its therapeutic benefits, and how to use meditation to harness the power of sound. Get to know our newest FACE of Memphis!
How did you first discover that you had a passion for sound therapy?
I’ve loved sound since before I can remember. I grew up in a house with a tin roof — there’s nothing quite like the sound of rain on a tin roof. Perhaps that started my love for the sound of water: the rain, the river, the ocean, waterfalls, fountains, and the “silent” sound of snow falling. Sound is so soothing, so comforting. Chinese philosopher Law Tzu said, “Nothing is softer or more flexible than water … yet nothing can resist it.” That — or sound.
Being married to a drummer, I’ve always loved music, but it was only after being introduced to the gong at one of our trade shows in the ’90s that I became completely captivated by the song of the gong. Then, in one of my yoga classes, my instructor played singing bowls during Savasana. I have never been the same.
Tell us a little about the Sound Journeys you offer at the Memphis Drum Shop — how did they evolve?Â
After teaching high school English for 30 years, I went directly from the classroom to the office at Memphis Drum Shop to manage accounting and human resources. I have been involved in Memphis Gong Chamber since we opened in 2011. I have been offering my Sound Journey experience since 2014, when I began enrolling in Sound Healing summits, taking full advantage of the coursework offered by Shift Network, and participating in workshops.
In 2019, I received my Reiki Master Practitioner Level III certificate from Reiki Memphis, Sound Healing Level I Crystal Bowl Certification from the Sound Healing Academy, Gong Practitioner certification from Mehtab Benton, and Integral Gong Practitioner certification from Yens Zygar. In 2020, I earned my Level II Diploma in Integral Sound Healing from the Sound Healing Academy.
How would you describe the Sound Journey experience? What can people expect from it?Â
Each session begins in our conference room with a brief guided meditation focusing on breathing and listening to begin the relaxation process. We then set an intention for the session and move into the candlelit Gong Chamber — a portal into another dimension where time stands still and healing begins.
Once participants have settled into their zero-gravity chairs, I play crystal singing bowls as I lead them through another guided meditation, including guided visualization for progressive muscle relaxation. Then, the gongs, which are suspended around the chamber to provide a 360-degree space of sound and vibration, are played for 25 to 35 minutes before being allowed to fade to silence. Then, bronze bowls, shakers, bells, and chimes are played to indicate the return from each client’s individual “journey.”
How have you seen sound therapy benefit the lives of those you have worked with?Â
My Sound Journey is a form of vibrational medicine. It’s very effective at triggering the relaxation response that counters the many symptoms of chronic stress, which medical research tells us is the underlying cause of more than 80% of illness and disease. Sound healing instruments generate sound waves, which conduct sound vibration pulses through the body with significant consequences that help us balance all aspects of our being — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
The combination of the sound and vibration, plus the intention for the session, greatly enhances the experience. My regular attendees — and even those who attend for the first time — report reduced stress, relieved anxiety, alleviated pain (migraines, neck/shoulder pain, stiff joints, sore muscles), help in coping with loss/grief/trauma, help with transforming and reforming new healthy patterns, improved sleep, heightened awareness of senses, improved balance, and a sense of peace and harmony.
Have you seen the demand for sound therapy grow in the past few years? How has the Memphis community responded to it?Â
Absolutely. The universe seems to be in a state of transformation, opening and expanding to embrace new ideas, new beginnings, and real change. In all the chaos of the uncertainty, anger, fear, and violence that surrounds us, there is an ever-growing need to choose “calm over chaos, serenity over stress, peace over perfection, grace over grit, faith over fear,” as Mary Davis notes in her book, Every Day Spirit.
Those who discover this sacred space — the calm in the chaos — tell others about it and often return with friends and family for another session. We don’t really advertise Memphis Gong Chamber … I firmly believe that those who need this in their lives will find us.
Can people do sound therapy on their own? Where can they find tools and materials to get started?Â
Anyone can do sound therapy. Just listen — truly listen — by isolating each sound around you. Listen to music, dance, hum, sing, do a meditation —especially a guided one that also involves toning or chanting. Watch videos on YouTube (our channel is Memphis Gong Chamber — Sound Journey) with headphones.
Choose your own instrument to play with intention and relax your body and still your mind. We offer a wide selection of gongs, singing bowls, drums, tuning forks, shakers, and handpans at the Memphis Drum Shop and on our website.
What is your daily meditation practice like? What advice do you have for those who want to incorporate more meditation and stillness into their daily routine?Â
My favorite meditation spots are at home at our breakfast table beside the sunroom and inside the Memphis Gong Chamber. I start each morning with 10 minutes of stretching exercises and Sun Salutations before having my first cup of coffee and a 15-minute daily devotional meditation.
I love the app Insight Timer, especially for those just beginning to meditate. Dress comfortably, find a distraction-free place where you can sit or lie in a relaxed position, and unplug from the “busyness” of everyday life. Start with the breath. Inhale through the nostrils and exhale either through the nostrils or the mouth. Pause and begin again. Let the breath continually bring you back to the present moment and your intention. Bring sound into the session with Insight Timer or an instrument that resonates. Simply inhale (pause), exhale (pause), and strike the instrument. Then close your eyes and begin again. Continue with slow, steady breaths, keeping your shoulders relaxed and down until you can no longer hear any trace of the instrument’s sound.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“Surrender to what is, let go of what was, have faith in what will be.” – Sonia Ricotti.
And, our final lightning round of questions!
Last delicious local meal: Any meal in Cooper-Young at Soul Fish, Young Avenue Deli, The Beauty Shop, or Tsunami
Favorite vacation spot: Home for a staycation, my all-time favorite place.
Book(s) on your bedside table: Jesus Calling, Every Day Spirit, and the Fergusson/Van Alstyne Mysteries series by Julia Spencer-Fleming. My favorite “escape” is through a mystery series!
All photos provided by Memphis Drum Shop.
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Meet more women doing remarkable things in their communities in our FACES archives!
