Picture yourself lying back, eyes closed, as gentle vibrations ripple through the air. In that moment, you begin to feel your body soften, your breath deepen, your mind quiet. There’s something almost magical about this pause—when sound stops being background noise and becomes a messenger of healing.
I discovered this recently when I met Chrissy Davis of Unwound in Santa Cruz and experienced what she calls “sound medicine.” As someone who believes in the power of human connection, I like to share about practices that help us reconnect with our embodied, soulful selves. And what I encountered with Chrissy truly resonated.
Chrissy Davis – Pure Heart
Chrissy Davis, integrated bodywork and breathwork coach, is the founder of Unwound. She quotes Mahatma Gandhi: “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Her path into healing work began with her own journey.
After physical and emotional challenges, she realized that medications were not addressing the real cause of her symptoms. She made a bold decision to leave her high-stress corporate career and pursue a career in massage therapy. Through that process, Chrissy discovered something profound—true healing isn’t just physical. It’s the integration of body, mind and spirit.
Since starting in massage therapy, her practice has evolved and blossomed. She deepened her skills with craniosacral work and somatic experiencing, and discovered another passion: breathwork and sound healing. When she moved her business from Stockton to Santa Cruz, she brought a holistic approach that honors the whole person rather than just physical symptoms.
Chrissy saw “how stress, anxiety, trauma and depression are stored in our bodies—in our tissues, fascia and breath patterns.” Her mission became creating a safe space where people could finally release what they’ve been carrying.
Sound Medicine – The Crystal Bowls
Chrissy calls it sound medicine because that’s genuinely what it is—medicine for the soul. When she plays the crystal bowls, the vibrations slow brainwaves.
“Most of us operate in beta waves—the stressed, busy mind state filled with thinking, planning and worrying. The bowls guide listeners into alpha and theta states, where deep healing can occur. In these slower brainwave states, the nervous system can rest, and the body can release tension.”
Chrissy describes watching her clients’ faces soften, their breathing deepens and a peaceful stillness wash over the room. That’s when real healing begins.
The Breathwork – 3-Part Breath and Beyond
The three-part breath Chrissy teaches—belly, chest and exhale through the mouth—is powerful. “When we’re stressed or traumatized, our breathing becomes shallow, keeping the body in a fight-or-flight state.” Her method works on multiple levels:
- Breathing into the belly activates the vagus nerve, signaling safety to the nervous system.
- The chest breathes fully oxygenates the body.
- The mouth exhale releases tension and stored emotions.
This breathwork moves stagnant energy and emotions stored in the body. “Trauma isn’t just remembered in our minds—it’s held in our tissues.” Chrissy creates a safe container for people to access and release what they’ve been holding, offering personalized techniques in one-on-one sessions.
Integrating Body, Mind and Spirit
Chrissy doesn’t just work on bodies—she works with the whole person. Through her own healing journey, she “learned that physical tension is often linked to emotional patterns.”
A sore shoulder might carry grief, a tight jaw might hide unspoken anger. Somatic work helps people understand what their body is trying to communicate. Our bodies hold immense wisdom; we need to listen.
Her integrated practice combines massage and craniosacral work to release physical tension, somatic experiencing to process emotions and breathwork with sound healing to create the conditions for profound transformation.
“It’s not just about an hour of relaxation—it’s about processing and releasing the stress, trauma and emotions that weigh us down,” she tells me.
A Little Sound History
The use of sound for healing goes back thousands of years. Indigenous cultures around the world used drums, didgeridoos and chanting to restore balance and harmony.
Modern research confirms what ancient wisdom always knew: sound can shift consciousness and calm the nervous system. Studies from the National Institutes of Health and Psychology Today show that sound meditation reduces stress, anxiety and pain while improving mood and spiritual well being.
Facts About Sound Healing
- Sound is more than something we hear—it’s something we feel. It moves through us, shaping our emotions and influencing physical well being. —Jonathan Goldman
- Research shows sound healing can shift brainwave states from stressful beta into alpha (calm) and theta (deep healing) frequencies.
- Studies show that sound meditation reduces tension, anger, fatigue, anxiety and depression, while increasing spiritual well being.
Bringing It All Back to Chrissy
Through her integrated approach—massage, somatic work, breathwork and sound healing—Chrissy honors the whole person. “Her crystal bowls and breathwork sessions do more than relax the body; they help reset the nervous system and reconnect people with their core selves. In Santa Cruz, Unwound is a place where healing happens, not just imagined.”
Visit her website unwoundbody.com to learn more or schedule a session.
Chrissy’s message
Mainly, Chrissy wanted me to share with you about the “…beauty and power of creating a healing space, for us to slow down, experience joy and peace in your life.”
It’s human magic in motion. When you stop trying so hard, the universe begins to hum your tune. Step into that hum with Chrissy’s work—it’s not just sound.
Janet Janssen is a Life in Business and Speaker Consultant. Visit janetjanssen.com to sign up for Mastering the Art of Public Speaking series to help teams and individuals level up their communication and speaking skills.
