Building Community through Musical Meditation

At Official Ritual in New York City, sound meditation sessions create a harmonious community.

Official Ritual is more than a place to experience a guided sound meditation, it’s a “sanctuary of wellbeing,” says Lauren Hersch, co-founder and CEO of the NYC-based meditation studio.

During the height of covid, when city dwellers were spending the majority of their time in small spaces, Hersch started an online community of meditation practitioners offering virtual sessions for those looking to relieve the anxiety of a global pandemic. But as the world emerged from their cocoons, Hersch and her co-founder and co-CEO, David Pilkenton, found that “many people just weren’t as connected as other humans that they live close to,” explains Hersch.

The pair started a partnership with Related to activate residential buildings’ amenity spaces for live meditations, where people could simultaneously reduce stress and connect with others in their orbit. They used a number of modalities, but found that sound meditations (think Tibetan singing bowls, rain sticks and other instruments) were the most popular.

With that, Official Ritual was born. About two years ago, Hersch and Pilkoten founded Official Ritual in New York City. When people sign up for a 50-minute guided meditation, they’re led through a series of sound work. The vibrations help to reset the body to theta–which is a neutral, deeply relaxed state–allowing the meditation to equip you in handling any stressors life throws at you.

Why sound as the main meditation modality?

It’s an “approachable modality,” says Hersch, who is also a certified integrative nutrition coach. “You can come in as you are. There are no  mantras, you’re not in your head as much. You can just show up and experience the live sound elements.”

Hersh and Pilkoten offer longer self care workshops as well and are continuing to lead live pop-ups for meditation sessions in both New York and DC. But if you don’t have access to Official Ritual (they’re hoping to expand across the country in the coming years) just yet, Hersch offers these tips for an at-home meditation practice:

1. Bring the Sound Home

Hersch suggests purchasing a Tibetan Singing Bowl or a Koshi Chime to add some sound to your at-home practice.

2. Create a Sanctuary

Have a dedicated space to do your meditations. It can be a small space in your home where you take a few minutes to yourself at the beginning and end of each day.

3. Get Creative

“Meditation can be applied in so many ways,” says Hersch. It can be anything from taking a long bathtub soak at the end of the day or journaling right before bed. It’s simply “taking an isolated period of 10 or 20 minutes. Shut off any electronic devices and focus. Think about stacking habits that are not intimidating to incorporate into your daily rituals.”

And if you can get to Official Ritual, we recommend it. “People missed having a community,” says Hersch of the success of the two-year-old studio. “They can come here and experience the magic of what we’re building.”

The Related Life is written and produced by the Related Life Editorial Team. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest events, news, and announcements in your area, and tag us for a chance to be featured @therelatedlife and #therelatedlife.