Story
Meet the Mountain Team: Koko T. Bear
Before joining the Blackberry team in September 2018, Koko T. Bear was performing soundbaths and teaching Kundalini Yoga in Los Angeles. The decade before they found their calling in soundbathing, Koko worked any customer service job that would allow flexible hours so they could work and audition for acting jobs. During that time, it was a job at a yoga studio that helped shape their future.
Kundalini Yoga was their introduction into a life in wellness. In Koko’s words, “It’s definitely the weirdest of the yoga disciplines. But one of the unique pieces was that most classes end in a gong bath.” Once they experienced the gong bath, they needed more gong in their life! Koko’s journey led him to his Soundology mentor, Lauren Rose. Feeling the change and emotional self stabilization that soundbathing nurtured, Koko realized they had to share it with others. “I am forever grateful [Lauren] took the time to teach me the subtle healings our bodies can experience when we build a present moment in sound.”
Question & Answer
What brought you to Blackberry Mountain?
My intuition. I was in my beautiful apartment in LA, meditating in the quiet moment of the 4am hour. I heard the voice, “Take sound healing to the South.” I opened my eyes, looked around my light blue walls, with murals of crystals painted on them, contrasted with the wooden floors I had painstakingly restored, and said “No.” When you tell your intuition no, the universe reminds you why you should. In the next couple weeks, my very comfortable life became very difficult – including but not limited to my landlord ending my lease. I made a covenant with myself that I would move back to Tennessee when I was ready and after I performed a wedding for my friend. From that moment, life became comfortable again, and for the next seven months, I house-sat all over LA (for one month even in a home overlooking the beaches of Malibu and self-realization temple). Then, when it was time to come home, I made a post on Instagram letting my friends know about my move. After that post, I was followed by Blackberry’s Wellness director at the time, Katelyn Young, and Wellness Manager Hope Parks. We got in touch, we scheduled an audition/interview, and in Bramble Hall at Blackberry Farm, I showed them my passion for sound healing. That’s when I first found out about the Mountain. The rest as they say… is the present.
What is one thing that guests wouldn't know about you?
At one point, I was performing regularly in The Second City Theatre and iO theatre in Chicago. For nearly a decade, my main focus and drive was improv comedy. I went to Chicago to follow in the footsteps of Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, Adam McKay and Chris Farley. Along the way, I realized I wanted to make people laugh because it made them feel better, so I found a way to do that without having to stay up so late at night.
How do you start your morning and end your day?
I start my day with a good tongue scraping, a cold shower and usually an egg-centric breakfast. The end of my day usually involves my feet elevated and something funny on Netflix
What is your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?
Indoor – singing and dancing
Outdoor – riding a bicycle
What is your favorite Blackberry moment?
I LOVE walking into Nest! I cannot get enough of those people.
This or That
Firetower or Three Sisters
Ooooo! Y’all are going to get me in trouble! Firetower (Where can I get those forks!?)
Meditating Indoors or Meditating Outdoors
Outdoors!
Sunrise or Sunset
Sunrise!!! (If I see the sunrise, I am able to nap guilt-free.)
Cocktail or Mocktail
Yes. Make it with love and care, and I’m happy.
Hot Yoga or Restorative Yoga
Restorative!
Taking in the Views or Experiencing the Journey
Taking in the views
Tuning Forks or Gong
Y’all! I can’t choose on that one. Forks for gentle and quiet shifts. Gongs for DEEP and moving transformations.