Maritess De Ocampo

Yoga teacher and sound healing practitioner Tet Bachmann plays the gong

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Tet Bachmann plays the gong

<div> </div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>We’ve grown so accustomed to Holy Week as a time for travel to escape the city in search of rest—no wonder we feel like we’re missing out by staying home. But what if staying home could offer the same or even deeper kind of renewal?If you’ve skipped traveling this Holy Week, your quiet time at home may offer something even better: the space to pause, listen, and come back to yourself.We asked two wellness experts to share how you can make the most of Holy Week at home with simple rituals that help you slow down and restore your energy.<div> </div><div>Let sound lead you back to stillness</div>Yoga teacher and sound healing practitioner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meditationisagift/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tet Fojas Bachmann</a> offers a gentle invitation to experience stillness through sound. You will be pleased to know it requires no elaborate setup; just openness and presence.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775050586686Tet Fojas Bachmann 1 copy.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:735px" width="735"/>Tet Fojas Bachmann, yoga teacher and sound healing practitioner, teaches us how to integrate the gift of sound into our daily practice | Photo courtesy of Tet Fojas Bachmann</div>Tet explains, “A sound healing session typically involves a practitioner playing an instrument while the recipient rests comfortably, either seated or lying down.”“The sounds and vibrations produced help guide the body and mind into a deeply relaxed state, allowing the body to enter a natural mode of self-repair and healing. At the start, the sounds may feel unfamiliar, often sparking a sense of curiosity. As the session progresses, these gentle vibrations begin to soothe the system, easing both body and mind into deeper relaxation. This shift supports the nervous system in moving from a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state to a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state, where the body’s natural healing processes can take place.”<div>How to integrate sound into your day</div>Sound healing is less about doing and more about allowing: allowing the body to settle, the mind to soften, and the nervous system to reset. Tet shares, “Research on sound healing has shown measurable outcomes, including reduced stress and anxiety, improved mental clarity, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and even a decrease in pain.”Here are simple ways to integrate sound into your day through small rituals that can anchor you in calmness, even within the noise of the city:1. Go outdoors and immerse yourself in the sounds of nature. Many studies have shown that listening to sounds such as birds chirping or water flowing can substantially lessen stress and anxiety.”2. Use your voice. Studies have revealed that vocal activities can help reduce stress &amp; anxiety, for example: -Chanting repetitive sounds or mantras can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, lower blood pressure &amp; heart rate.-Singing alone or in a group can help release neurochemicals that can uplift the mood as well as reduce our stress hormone (cortisol) levels;-Humming can help stimulate the vagus nerve, which can lower the heart rate, and increase a sense of calmness.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775066072385Nepalese sound bowls.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="740" style="width:740px"/>Three Tibetan singing bowls and a single massage bowl sits behind them   | Photo courtesy of Tet Fojas Bachmann</div>Tet says that sound healing is often misunderstood and names two common misconceptions:Myth #1: &quot;The instrument does the healing.&quot;It is the sound/vibration from the instrument that leads the body and mind into a deep state of relaxation, or reach a brainwave state that allows the body and cells to self heal.Myth #2: &quot;Sound Healing is just a New Age trend.&quot;The sound healing modalities we experience today are based on ancient practices that have been passed down from generation to generation from various cultural traditions (Vedic, Tibetan, Himalayan, Native American, etc.)”Beyond technique or tradition, what sound healing ultimately reveals is something deeply human: the body’s innate ability to restore itself when given the chance.As humans, we have an innate capacity to heal ourselves when we learn to calm the mind and truly relax. Our mental state has a direct impact on our physical well-being. By making rest and deep relaxation a regular part of our daily lives, we can begin to access this natural healing process. Practices like meditation and sound healing, rooted in ancient traditions, can help us reach that deeper state of relaxation, allowing both body and mind to restore and heal.<div>The gift of intentional rest</div>For <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSR7IlHhpjwM3mlLXyzBA1ty5UaJYOTeH-LznM0/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Carol Laguna,</a> the Corporate Wellness and Spa Director of <a href="https://www.anyaresorts.com/niyama-wellness-center/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Niyama Wellness</a> under <a href="https://fuegohospitality.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fuego Hospitality Collective</a>, this time of year is less about where you go and more about how you choose to pause.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775050639736Carol Laguna01 copy.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Carol Laguna, Corporate Wellness and Spa Director, Niyama Wellness (Fuego Hospitality Collective), encourages us to rest without guilt | Photo courtesy of Carol Laguna</div>“Holy Week naturally invites us to slow down from the demands of our daily life, making it a gentle opportunity for renewal. Physically, it’s a time for us to rest, nourish the body, and adopt more mindful routines that restore our energy. Mentally, it creates space to step back from constant busyness, reflect on personal growth, and regain clarity. Emotionally, it encourages gratitude, forgiveness, and deeper connection with family and friends, reminding us of the relationships that truly matter. More than anything, this period is about giving yourself permission to breathe, pause, and realign with your values, so you emerge feeling lighter, centered, and renewed.”For those spending Holy Week at home, the reset does not require elaborate rituals or special setups. “Here are some simple, grounding wellness rituals that Carol suggests you can realistically do at home this Holy Week, whether alone or with loved ones:<div>Activities you can try by yourself </div>Morning Quiet Time. Spend 10–15 minutes in silence, journaling or reflecting on gratitude. Even just sitting by a window with a cup of tea or coffee counts as mindful rest.Gentle Movement. Stretch or walk around your home barefoot (for grounding) to reconnect with your body. You can keep it simple: a few deep breaths with arms raised can reset your energy.Digital Pause. Choose one hour daily to step away from screens. Use this time for prayer, reading, or simply resting.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775066137583Mandala Making.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:718px" width="718"/>This mandala making session using fresh flowers and leaves is a wonderful slow and purposeful activity | Photo courtesy of Anya Resort Tagaytay </div><div> </div><div>Activities with family and friends</div>Shared Meal Ritual. Cook or prepare something together, even a simple snack. Before eating, pause for a short prayer or reflection.Storytelling Hour. Spend time sharing family stories, looking through photo albums, reflecting on your faith, or recalling favorite life lessons. These moments deepen connection and honor the spirit of Holy Week.Playful Games for Laughter and Bonding. Charades or Pictionary, or Dance Freeze by playing music, dance freely, and freeze when the music stops—this is lighthearted and energizing as a family bonding.Carol also suggests this daily rhythm during the Holy week:Morning: Quiet reflection aloneAfternoon: Gentle movement or digital pauseEvening: Shared meal or storytelling with family and friends“This way, each day feels balanced and nourishing both your inner self and your relationships,” she says.For many, the challenge is not knowing what to do, but allowing themselves to slow down. According to Carol, “A gentle, practical way to begin resting, without guilt is to start with micro-rest moments rather than trying to overhaul your entire schedule.”Here are some examples of resting without guilt:Pause for 5 minutes. Sit somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and simply breathe. Treat it as a reset rather than “doing nothing.”Pair rest with something small you enjoy. A warm drink, a short walk, or listening to a favorite song. This makes rest feel purposeful and rewarding.Practice “wholeness/contentment.” End your day by acknowledging what you’ve already done, so you don’t carry guilt into your downtime.Carol emphasizes, “Rest doesn’t have to mean hours of inactivity. Even tiny pauses can retrain your mind to see slowing down as a valid, necessary part of life.”Beyond routine, even the smallest details at home can shape how deeply we rest.She adds, “When we blend small sensory elements into our home, we invite the body and mind into a gentle state of restoration. A soothing fragrance like lavender or sandalwood can calm the nervous system and anchor us in the present moment. Soft ambient sounds, whether flowing water, birdsong, or mellow music that create a cocoon that shields us from stress and helps regulate our mood. Warm, dimmable lighting or the glow of candles signals safety and rest, aligning with our natural rhythms. Together, these subtle cues form a sanctuary where tension dissolves, energy is replenished, and the spirit feels nurtured. It’s a holistic way of reminding ourselves that healing doesn’t always require grand gestures, sometimes it’s the quiet layering of scent, sound, and light that restores balance.”Carol concludes by reflecting: “I would hope people give themselves the gift of intentional rest this Holy Week. That means allowing space to pause, breathe, and truly be in the moment whether in prayer, reflection, digital detox or simply quiet time away from the usual rush. Rest is not just physical; it’s emotional and spiritual too. By slowing down, you give your mind and body a chance to reset, and your spirit room to reconnect with what matters most.”<div>To learn more about sound healing, you can contact Tet through email at: meditationisagift@gmail.com. If you’re curious about intentional rest, you can send Carol an email at caroll@niyamawellness.ph.</div>

If you’ve skipped traveling this Holy Week, your quiet time at home may offer something even better: the space to pause, listen, and reconnect with yourself.

If you’ve skipped traveling this Holy Week, your quiet time at home may offer something even better: the space to pause, listen, and reconnect with yourself.

Staying home this Holy Week? Start your reset with sound and stillness.

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Staying home this Holy Week? Start your reset with sound and stillness.

Mawi Fojas De Ocampo

Published April 01, 2026 09:51 PM PHT

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Updated April 03, 2026 04:33 PM PHT

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Holy Week

Rest And Renew

Sound Healing

Breathe

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