I Tried It: Soundbathing by Candlelight in the Heart of Downtown Vancouver

I’m not one to steer away from the woo of it all: I’ve had my aura photographed in Sedona, I’ve consulted tarot readers on my life path and I’ve had my daughter’s birth chart mapped—so when the opportunity to try a candlelit soundbath at the Fairmont Waterfront presented itself to me, I was obviously immediately in.

Sometimes, though, after shelling out $200 or more on these “spiritual” experiences, I find myself feeling a little more skeptical than I like to admit that I am—am I really going to “plan a trip, think about buying a home, maybe get that big promotion” or am I, predictably, a mid-30s person for whom these vague experiences could apply at any time? 

So when I came into the Fairmont Waterfront’s new offering—a candlelit soundbath and supper near the rooftop pool inside one of the oceanside’s most comfortable hotels—I reminded myself of my skeptical nature. Of course, I wanted to see what it was all about anyway, so I checked into my 22nd floor room overlooking Vancouver’s harbour (and a slight view of the third-floor rooftop pool where I was headed), changed into a warm sweater and yoga pants and made my way down to the third-floor wellness area.

Eight mats splayed out in rays around Tianne Allan, wellness expert at the Fairmont Waterfront, who would be hosting the soundbath. In front of her, seven quartz crystal singing bowls and some twinkly lights, and in front of the guests (a couple celebrating an anniversary staycation, a pair of girlfriends out for the night, another couple enjoying a relaxing evening together and me), two sets of blankets and two small stones: a crystal quartz and a small glass pebble to place on your “third eye” to ground and relax as you lay down, savasana-style, on the mats and wrap yourself in a blanket. Low-lit electric candles were at the foot of each individual mat. With feet facing away from the instructor and toward the wall, my head was in close proximity to the singing bowls.

To start, Allan led the group through some gentle stretching exercises; the modality felt nearly like a yin yoga class. After 30 minutes, my jaw begins to unclench as the reverberation of clear quartz singing bowls starts to bathe the room. After the stretch, we do absolutely nothing but enjoy the sound of seven different resonant octaves. Waves of sound wash over me, and I can hear the gentle purrs (snores, maybe?) of my fellow soundbathers who are so relaxed they’ve begun to fall asleep. It’s likely that I, too, have dipped in and out of a gentle sleep once or twice throughout the 90-minute session.

One especially observant class participant asks Allan after class if the seven singing bowls represent the seven chakras—and if so, which notes resonate with what: throat, heart, sacral and so on.

Though it’s a common theme among soundbath practitioners (add that to your LinkedIn profile), Allan says that this set of singing bowls is simply just seven different notes meant to create resonant sound. The refreshing lack of woo-woo ideology grounds the experience in reality for me, and I emerge zenned out but energized for the night’s activity ahead: supper in the Fairmont’s ARC restaurant.

On this particular evening, dinner is the three-course, coastal-inspired Province to Plate menu, with additional wine pairings (if one so desires), featuring local, seasonal ingredients found here in B.C.—down to the lamb. Hence, “the province.”

For those who’ve been sleeping on this knowledge, the Fairmont Waterfront is home to a colony of bees (don’t worry, they’re contained and very well looked after!) in the rooftop apiary, where the hard-working pollinators make the hotel’s signature honey, (yes, those tiny little jars of honey that you find at the buffet and in your hotel room are actually made in-house!), and that’s where my meal begins.

ARC’s signature Apiary cocktail arrives at my table with a bit of flair: a house-made honey syrup is combined with chartreuse and Waterfront gin, with a sprig of fresh rosemary added to the glass. Then, a flame-torched spritz of champagne acid wakes up the senses, just to have them lulled back into a smokey haze as the flame evaporates. 

Course one of the supper is the Tide Waters starter salad: strips of house-marinated B.C. wild salmon lay underneath celery leaves, punchy granny smith apples, grapes and walnuts, topped with a preserved lemon aioli. This refreshing bite is followed by the Harvest Fields, a vine-leaf wrapped lamb loin sitting in a thick and earthy mushroom caramel with green asparagus and a deep and juicy wine sauce made with Quails’ Gate foch. 

To wrap up the nourishing meal, the finishing touch is Sweet Peaks, a baked ambrosia apple tart with almond frangipane, cinnamon icing sugar and a salted caramel gelato.

Lulled nearly into a food coma from the meal, I resolve to get another half hour of indulgent relaxation before retiring to my hotel room: a few laps in the heated rooftop pool (coincidentally, right next to the rooftop apiary and garden where my recent meal’s honey and a few herbs have been sourced).

When I lay my head down on the pillow later that evening, I know a good night’s sleep is ahead of me (living with a toddler dictates that this is not often the case)—I’m healed by sound, lulled by candlelight, nourished by a handcrafted, locally-sourced meal and I’m spent from moving my body in luxuriant laps on the rooftop pool. If you ask me, it’s a perfect way to sidle into a relaxing weekend ahead and I’m savouring the experience. No skepticism here.

The Fairmont Waterfront Candlelit Soundbath and Supper Series continues in the New Year. The experience is $129 per person including taxes and gratuities.

900 Canada Place Way
@fairmontwaterfront