Life Is Sound

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Life Is Sound Founded by James Mayer.

Life Is Sound hosts the UK’s largest regular sound bath events, alongside retreats, virtual sessions, guided meditations, podcast conversations, and experiences designed to help you slow down, reconnect, and remember who you are.

One thing you cannot anticipate during a sound bath is the energy of the room, each one is different, this one I could f...
17/10/2026

One thing you cannot anticipate during a sound bath is the energy of the room, each one is different, this one I could feel the emotion rise up within myself as I started speaking, not my emotion, the collective pouring out, I could feel everyone was ready to let go. It’s hard to put into words, in that moment I got it, my role is to transmute that, through words, through sounds, through guidance.

This was the first of two sessions of the day, I was intrigued to see how the second one would be received knowing this one landed deeply with the room.

It was the first time bringing the same group of people back into the space to go again, to ask the question, what is after relaxation? What happens if you give yourself permission to let go after that? This becomes an exploration of self, a reconnection to the part of you that everyday life pushes away.

Afterwards, everyone was just in a state of calm and gratitude, all before lunch, spa time and another sound bath.

I am grateful to every single one of you who joined me on this day, some of you arrived by yourself, some with a friend, a partner or in a group, for some of you it was your first time meeting me, some of you seasoned in the Life Is Sound sessions, everyone feeling at home.

Thank you to Retreats at Broughton Sanctuary for making this day a dream 🙏🏼✨

CALM FOR LIFE 002
15th May 2027

We’re back to do it all over again and we’re already 25% full for the day.

If you are feeling the call to join us, comment “Retreat” below and I’ll send you the details.

📸 sarah 🧡

16/10/2026

Call and response with the Shruti and Monolina by

First time using this combination and they work so well to help people drop into a rhythm of breath to help them relax and start to unwind.

Before we began our nature walk, we passed through the Door of Transformation at Broughton Sanctuary. A beautiful way to...
15/10/2026

Before we began our nature walk, we passed through the Door of Transformation at Broughton Sanctuary. A beautiful way to begin what would become such a special day. 🌿

We experienced just about every kind of weather. Sunshine, rain, wind and even multiple rainbows. Somehow, it all felt like part of the experience.

Broughton Sanctuary is surrounded by the most incredible nature, and this is one of the reasons I chose this place for Calm For Life.

There’s a feeling to the land here that’s difficult to put into words. Something you really have to experience for yourself.

From walking through the woodland together in the morning to gathering around the fire at the end of the day, ring the bell to signify the closing of the circle, there were so many moments I’ll carry with me for a long time. 🙏🏼

I’m so grateful to everyone who came and shared this first retreat with us. And to those of you who have already booked to come back again, thank you so much. It really does mean a lot. 🧡

We’ll be back to do it all again on Saturday 15th May 2027, and I can’t wait to welcome you.

Comment RETREAT and I’ll send you the details.

Big Love,

James ✨

Day 📸 Shot by sarah
Mixed with content by and Cathy ✨

13/10/2026

The rainstick fills the room with beautiful textures as the melodies and rhythms of the handpan cascade over you.

What a special day this was at . 🧡

A little moment from our very first Calm For Life retreat.

Our next retreat takes place on 15th May 2027. 🗓️

Comment RETREAT and I’ll send you the details. ✨

A glimpse into something very special. ✨Last weekend marked a new chapter for Life Is Sound as we came together at Broug...
12/10/2026

A glimpse into something very special. ✨

Last weekend marked a new chapter for Life Is Sound as we came together at Broughton Sanctuary for our very first Calm for Life retreat.

I’ve long envisioned experiences beyond our sound baths. Space to slow down, reconnect and simply be.

Last weekend, that vision became a reality.

The timing felt special. 10.10, in a year adding up to 10 (2+0+2+6), on the weekend of a new moon. Jill, who joined us, pointed out it was World Mental Health Day. What a perfect day. ✨

As I began guiding our first sound bath, I could feel the emotion in the room. Something hit me like a lightning bolt.

This is so much more than sound relaxation. It’s energy work. Feeling the people in the room and allowing that to guide where we go together.

I’ve felt energy deeply for years, and this has been part of my own journey since 2015. Standing there, I felt that journey beginning to make sense on a deeper level. Sound is powerful, but there’s something beyond the instruments I’m learning to trust.

We shared two sound baths, Yin & Yang. Two different energies, each bringing something special.

But the day was about so much more than sound. Connection, reflection, letting go and giving ourselves permission to simply be.

Glimpses of our sound baths. There was so much more, and I can’t wait to share more soon.

This retreat was everything I hoped it would be, and more.

A heartfelt thank you to Broughton Sanctuary and Retreats at Broughton Sanctuary for opening this beautiful space and trusting me to bring a long-held vision to life.

To my wonderful Mum (Angela) and Maureen, thank you for helping me guide the day with so much care. And to Sarah sarah thank you for capturing these beautiful moments. 🙏🏼

To everyone who joined us, thank you for bringing so much of yourselves. And to everyone supporting Life Is Sound, thank you for being on this journey.

This is just the beginning. ☺️✨

Calm for Life 002 is now confirmed. 🧡
Saturday 15th May 2027 at Broughton Sanctuary.

Comment RETREAT and I’ll send you the details.
Payment plans available. ✨

08/10/2026

More doesn’t always mean better.

In fact, some of the most powerful moments in music happen when you begin to take things away.

A single handpan and a rainstick can fill an entire space.

Not every moment needs another instrument. Not every silence needs filling. Not every piece of music needs another layer.

There’s an art to knowing what to add, but perhaps an even greater art to knowing what to leave out.

For me, a sound bath isn’t about how many instruments I can fit into 90 minutes.

It’s about creating a journey through sound. The dynamics, the textures, the tension, the release and the moments of stillness in between.

Sound is a huge part of this thing that I doThe other is connection.📸 by adrianbrennerphoto
06/10/2026

Sound is a huge part of this thing that I do

The other is connection.

📸 by adrianbrennerphoto

It’s finally nearly here…….This is a day for you.To switch off.To slow down.To do nothing for a while.No rushing from on...
05/10/2026

It’s finally nearly here…….This is a day for you.

To switch off.
To slow down.
To do nothing for a while.

No rushing from one thing to the next. No pressure to be productive. Just a full day with the space to breathe, rest and reconnect with yourself.

This Saturday, 35 of us will come together at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary for our very first Calm for Life Retreat 🌿

Across the day you’ll experience two signature Life Is Sound sound baths, an optional morning nature walk or time to explore the Walking Meditation Labyrinth, spa access at the Avalon Wellbeing Centre, a chef-prepared plant-based lunch, journalling, quiet time and a closing fire circle as the day comes to an end.

Everything has been intentionally designed around one simple idea:

You don’t have to do anything. You can just be.

We now have just 5 spaces remaining. ✨

If something in you feels like you need this, I’d love to welcome you.

Comment RETREAT below and I’ll send you the link with all the details 🧡

📍 Broughton Sanctuary
📅 Saturday 10th October
⏰ 9am to 6pm

04/10/2026

A friend asked me recently if I ever get nervous before a sound bath.

The truth is, standing in front of people and making music has been part of my life for a long time.

I started out MCing on pirate radio stations when I was 15, right in the middle of the UK Garage era. From there, I started making hip hop and experimenting with different types of music with my friends.

Eventually, some of us became a band, got a record deal and ended up touring all over the country. That’s really where I found my voice as a singer too.

We supported bands like UB40, The Specials, The Enemy and The Courteeners, appeared on TV and radio, and played some of the biggest festivals in the UK.

Back then, I used to make people jump around.

Now they lie down with their eyes closed 😂

When I look back at all those chapters and then look at what I’m doing today, I realise there’s been a thread running through all of it.

Music.

Connection.

Bringing people together through sound.

I couldn’t have known back then that one day I’d be playing handpan and crystal singing bowls in places like Manchester Cathedral and The Monastery, creating completely different experiences for hundreds of people in the city that raised me.

There’s something really special about that.

Life has taken me down some roads I expected and plenty that I didn’t. My relationship with music has changed massively along the way, but somehow it has always been there.

Maybe Life Is Sound didn’t really start when I gave it a name.

Maybe it’s something I’ve been becoming my whole life.

The music may have changed.

I’ve changed.

But maybe one of the reasons I feel so comfortable holding a space for hundreds of people today is because I’ve been doing it, in one form or another, for most of my life.

My life has always been sound 🧡

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Victoria Street
Manchester
M3 1SX

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