Tonights interview is with Nikki Slade a pioneer of voice and sound work. Nikki offers group and individual Voicework to help you find your Inner Voice, connecting you to your true sound.
She has recorded chanting CD's and is the founder of Chemistry at Work. She is going to be co-hosting a workshop at Manchester this weekend with Michael James.
"Create your Best Life Now: Sound and Focus to Align with the Law of Attraction."
Using powerful written processes and sound meditations, this event will help you let go of any unwanted habits of thinking and negative experiences - and open the door to your best life.
We'd like to say thanks to Nikki for answering our questions. We can't wait for the workshop this weekend!
Nikki can be found online at nikkislade.com
Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and your work?
I have always been passionate about singing since early childhood.I then performed as an actor/singer and musician for 14 years professionally. As I look back what I really loved about singing was the connection it created inside to my true Self and the way it connected me to others in a way that speech rarely did. In 1987 I discovered the power of the yoga of sacred sound and chanting which dramatically changed my life.It was the missing link for me to the ‘hole in the soul’. When I chanted I felt connected ecstatic and free and I knew without question that this was my true nature. It was always a contradiction for me growing ups as to why I could feel so free singing and then so constrained in speaking and social interaction.I was however articulate even eloquent ,however my words seldom seemed to flow from my inner voice. They were always words packaged perfectly to please everyone around me to protect myself from the continuous fear of criticism or attack. The power of chanting has transformed my relationship at the core and speaking is much easier now and particularly flows when I am facilitating sessions. I In 1990 I began offering workshops and events in sound and voice.This work has evolved over nearly 25 years years and as brought me to lead chanting and voicework seminars in corporations such as Cisco, M@C Saatchi, and Deutsche Bank plus Wandsworth mens prison and weekly sessions on the addiction treatment programme at the Priory hospital North London over 12 years. Since 2004 I have been resident Kirtan leader for Triyoga in London.I have released 3 successful chant Cds Nectarine ,Monsoon and Sounscape.
Your consultations look like very personal, out of your comfort zone experiences, how do you first break the ice with a client to put them at ease?
A client is only able to have a personal breakthrough if they feel at ease in the space provided by the facilitator.I have always placed a really high emphasis on providing a non judgemental and unconditionally loving and supportive space to work in. I also bring in a great sense of humour on occasion to break the ice as well as a deep sensitivity in my listening to what the client is actually dealing with and what they want to attune with to empower them in their lives going forward.
Can you tell us a bit more about Kirtan chanting?
Chanting or kirtan is one of the main stems of Yoga.Yoga means reunion with inner light The practice of daily mantra repetition and chanting is the pathway to connecting with the heart in other words to connect to the core of our being. The vibrations of the chant are transformative and they have the power to dissolve all spiritual, mental and emotional obstacles that stand in the way of us experiencing the bliss of our connection with our inner Self. The syllables of the chants belong inherently to all us of because they are the promordial language of the soul first discovered centuries ago by sages in India when in deep states of meditation.
Is your training a spiritual process, and what do non-spiritual clients think about such concepts as aligning with the movement with the Universe?
My background is the yoga of chanting which is spiritual but not religious.All clients are able to relate because the emphasis in each session is simply on universal connection.For some people it flows to focus purely on the word ‘energy’ which is easier to grasp. We focus on connecting with the most expanded energy within us that nourishes and inspires us and gives us the strength to move forward in life. Through the power of chanting we connect to this space and are naturally uplifted and liberated as we tap into this hidden treasure living right inside us where we can have an actual experience of our own blissful and free nature
Which writer/thinker has influenced you the most?
Hazrat Inayat Khan,Tukaram Maharaj and Rumi and Werner Erhard.
What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
To love people the way they are and the way they are not and to just ‘LET IT BE’
Could you name 6 Desert Island films/CD's?
1] The Mantra Om Namah Shivaya
2] The Disney cartoon Ratatouille.
3] The French film The Intouchables
4] The musical Half a Sixpence with Tommy Steele.
5] The Wizard of Oz.
6[ Sweet Love [the track by Anita Baker.
