Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Jones.
Lauren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Before living in Encinitas, I was in Brooklyn and worked as a designer in the fashion industry. At some point found myself burnt out and my creative tank empty from the many frustrations in place by traditional industry standards.
With a desire to reassess my purpose, I left Brooklyn to travel. During my travels, I arrived in Mysore, India to study Ashtanga Yoga and stumbled upon The Temple of Singing Bowls. I participated in a sound bath during the full moon and the experience was so impactful I then decided to stay and train in this ancient practice. It was there I discovered meditation as an integration of life rather than a practice that stayed on my cushion. This sound-based, mindful practice created a deeper connection to all of my senses, the present moment, and ultimately to myself.
I returned to the states and found a new place to call home- Encinitas! While setting up my new space for sound healing, I felt it was important to create accessories that aligned with my aesthetics as well as my values, so I dusted off the crafts and skills that had initially brought me to the fashion industry. I used natural dyes and sustainable practices to make quality props for sound healing, meditation and my home.
Over the next few years, as my practice evolved, so did my collection of products, which now range from supportive meditation cushions to silk pillowcases.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely been a roller coaster of ups and downs. Looking back at my journey, the struggles all came at times when I wasn’t trusting my intuition or had lost touch with my inner compass. Leaving New York without a “plan” was terrifying and I fought it for a long time. I finally took the plunge and trusted the process and it ultimately let me to creating my business, but there were lots of days filled with self-doubt and worry. The initial process of getting the business off the ground was also challenging. Starting your own business forces you to be vulnerable in sharing something that is so dear to your heart, it can be the most challenging and also the most rewarding experience and I do my best to ride the waves of it all. Just three years in, I know there will be more bumps ahead, but I am trusting that each of them will help me grow and evolve along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Sound as Color combines my two worlds, gifts and passions, which I think is quite unique. I offer sound bath experiences and also create and sell handmade, naturally dyed accessories for self-care, meditation and the home, such as silk eye masks and meditation cushions.
Natural dyeing techniques create unique and sometimes unexpected outcomes that go hand in hand with meditation in revealing the beauty of imperfections, so these two offerings really support each other.
If you have never experienced a sound bath before, it is a deep listening experience using instruments such as Himalayan Singing Bowls and chimes. This process allows people to access to a theta brain state, the state between the conscious and subconscious, associated with deep meditation. No matter the intention it is deeply relaxing, and I think it is important now more than ever that we take a break from our screens and daily lives to allow the body and mind to recharge.
My personal values of sustainability are reflected in the company. Every element of our products from raw materials to packaging are carefully sourced with mother earth in mind, and our local sewers are paid fair living wages. This took a lot of research and development, but I am really proud to be able to say this about our goods.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
It has been such a time of personal growth for me. I think it has taught us all to be more fluid with live’s circumstances. Personally, it is has served as reminder that nothing in this life is set in stone and that being able to sit with the uncomfortable nature of uncertainty actually unlocks room for new possibilities. When we believe things are supposed to be a certain way, we can often get stuck, but when we allow ourselves to let go of certain pre-set expectations, there is often something unexpected waiting for us on the other side.
Pricing:
- Silk Pillowcases $98-128
- Meditation Cushions $114-234
- Eye Masks $68-74
- Scrunchies $16
Contact Info:
- Email: studio@soundascolor.com
- Website: Soundascolor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundascolor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soundascolor
Image Credits
Personal Photo- Sarina Scheepers http://www.sarinascheepers.com/ Other Brand Photos – Roly Gomez https://rolygomez.com/
