Sound healing studio Casa Gaia opens in Plaza Midwood
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Casa Gaia focuses on sound healing but also offers yoga, Pilates, sculpt, breathwork, meditation and social gatherings. Photo: Courtesy of Christy Copley Leviner and Casa Gaia
Casa Gaia, a sound healing studio, is now open in Plaza Midwood.
Why it matters: Founder Sofia Paloma describes Casa Gaia as Charlotte's first dedicated sound healing studio and believes it may be the first of its kind in North Carolina.
Zoom in: While many wellness studios offer occasional sound baths or healing sessions, Casa Gaia is built around sound healing first.
- Paloma says the goal is to create a one-stop wellness space where people can access sound healing alongside yoga, Pilates and other practices, rather than juggling memberships at multiple studios.
What they're saying: After navigating physical disability and grief, Paloma says sound healing and meditation helped her rebuild her life. She wanted to create a permanent home for the practices and community that supported her.
- "I've overcome my own personal struggles through this work, and it's created so much abundance in my life," Paloma said. "I know what this work can do."
What to expect: The studio, located in the former Pranayama House Healing Center space, focuses on daily sound healing sessions where facilitators will use instruments including Tibetan bowls, along with crystals, to help support participants' physical and emotional health.
- Classes are offered daily in durations of 30, 60 and 90 minutes.
- The studio also offers movement classes like vinyasa, yin and slow & reset yoga, sculpt, mat Pilates and prenatal sessions.
The vibe: The 1,300-square-foot space blends Moroccan, Indian and Egyptian-inspired design with handcrafted details, creating an immersive, sound-first experience that feels more like a cozy global lounge than a traditional studio.
- The space can hold about 30 people for sound healing sessions and about 25 people for movement sessions.
Zoom out: Paloma hopes Casa Gaia can become a community hub where people can heal, connect and make friends.
- She plans to host events like women's circles, partner sessions, breathwork workshops, kirtan-style chanting and a monthly sober social tea lounge meetup. Eventually, she'll expand that community through local and international retreats.
- "I came out here not knowing anyone and started from scratch," Paloma said. "Now I have a group of friends I feel so connected to because we're all into the same wellness things and we're like-minded."
If you go: Sign up for a Casa Gaia class at 1511 Central Ave in advance on ClassPass. To celebrate the opening, Casa Gaia is offering one week of unlimited classes for $49.
