Namaste, beloved community:

As summer draws to a close and we begin our transition from light into darkness, we find ourselves contemplating the spaces between the two. Perhaps it’s because we’ve spent so much time basking in the loving warmth of our glorious Surya Sun—and, unexpectedly, deep within the chambers of our precious Mother Earth.

It has been a subterranean summer: exploring spaces alive with variations of light and sound, resonance and shadow. Along the way, we’ve learned more about ourselves as humans, embodied souls, and women moving through a world of both wonder and sorrow—small yet vital expressions of nature within a vast sea of interconnectedness.

We emerge with renewed vision and a deeper capacity for stillness and listening. Sound is all around us, moving through the ether in undulating waves—sometimes calming, sometimes agitating, but always present, even within silence. Learning to appreciate and harness this energy has been at the heart of our journey over the past year.

September 7 marked one year since we began Kupala Yoga—and what a journey it continues to be. We are learning from friends and teachers, past and present, while deepening our own inner work. Pauline Oliveros’s Deep Listening practice has opened new pathways toward greater stillness and presence in our daily lives. We’ve also connected with innovators in resonant sound experimentation, expanding our understanding of how vibration moves through time and space.

As facilitators, we hope that sharing these experiences will inspire others to explore their own inner landscapes. There is so much to give and receive when we awaken to the infinite possibilities for personal and spiritual growth. We are still discovering our paths—many, meandering, and always fruitful.

Last month, we spent several weeks traveling through Italy. We wandered through Grotte di Castellana, the country’s largest underground cave system; sailed along the rugged coast of Polignano a Mare and explored its luminous sea caves; and listened to our voices resonate inside 2,000-year-old Etruscan tombs at the Cerveteri Necropolis.

The heart of our journey, however, was a visit to Grotta Sonora—Italian for “the sounding cave”—the studio and showroom of artisan gong makers and musicians Madhava Carrara and Margherita Cioffi.

Some experiences stay with you for a lifetime. This was one of them.

Grotta Sonora is located in Calcata Vecchia, a beautiful hilltop town outside Rome known for its ancient stone architecture. There, within Etruscan caves, some of the world’s finest gongs are handcrafted and tuned to unique frequencies.

We first encountered these extraordinary instruments during a serendipitous sound bath led by sitarist and sound practitioner Sahar Sounds. Her gong was as visually stunning as it was sonically transportive; we felt carried into another dimension. Knowing we would soon be traveling through Italy, we arranged a pilgrimage to the place where it was made.

Madhava and Margherita welcomed us at the cave entrance with warm greetings and hugs. Humble, generous, and deeply devoted to their craft, they guided us through the cave’s rooms, sharing their experimental creations and offering a glimpse into the processes behind each instrument. Within those ancient chambers, we could physically feel every vibration moving through the space—and through us.

We left with a deeper understanding of sound, resonance, and ourselves as practitioners. Madhava and Margherita’s passion is infectious, and their devotion to transforming sound and vibration into therapeutic experiences is unmistakable. We will carry this visit with us for years and hope to return as soon as we can.

Here is a short video offering a glimpse into our experience.

And, of course, we brought home some new instruments to share with you! We are thrilled to welcome two beautiful additions to our sound setup. Their voices are otherworldly and transportive, and we can’t wait for you to experience them. 

Stay tuned for details about our next sound bath. We are also available for private sound immersions. If you would like to host a group sound bath in your home or at another venue, please reach out—we would love to create that experience with you. Or if you are also a facilitator and would like to collaborate, we want to hear from you as well!

Hopefully we will see some of you at our upcoming events!

Om shanti,

Jess & April

Upcoming Events

Amnesty International USA's Western Regional Activism Conference 2026

October 3rd and 4th, 8am-1pm at the Japanese American National Museum

We are so honored to be given the opportunity to present our workshop Resistance Requires Rest: Cultivating Mindful Practices to Stay Healthy in Challenging Times for Amnesty International’s 2026 Western Activism Conference! This will be an exciting opportunity for us to be in community with an incredible array of human rights activists, researchers, journalists, and humanitarian aid workers on the front lines of our world’s most pressing and daunting issues. Together we will learn about human rights and activism. The public is welcome to join the entire conference where there will be many different workshops and talks on global matters such as the rise of authoritarianism, climate justice, and the fight to preserve democracy. More information and tickets are available HERE.

Yoga Nidra with Anita Vasan + Kupala Yoga Sound Bath
October 17th, 12:30-2pm at North Ray Yoga, La Brea

We’re delighted to reunite with our incredibly talented friend Anita Vasan for an evening of movement, breath, and immersive sound at North Ray Yoga, La Brea.

Join us for an embodied flow integrating yogic philosophy, pranayama, yoga nidra, and sound meditation for a deeply restorative experience.

Karma Yoga Day: Habitat Restoration w/ Friends of the LA River

October 24th, 8am-11am

Join us in our second time supporting The Friends of The Los Angeles River for their monthly habitat restoration day in the Sepulveda Basin.

With support from the California Native Plant Society, volunteers will roll up their sleeves to remove invasive mustard and learn how it impacts the ecosystem and why clearing it is key to restoring native habitat.

Afterward, San Fernando Valley Audubon Society will lead walks around the Nature Reserve, with binoculars provided so you can slow down and see some of the incredible wildlife.

Come prepared to get a little dirty and learn how to steward the land we inhabit for future generations to enjoy.

For updates on all our offerings follow us on Instagram at @kupalayoga!