Hello I’m Ciara
Ciara (pronounced Sha-rah) is the founder of Mahala Healing, a Sydney-based healing practice offering sound-led experiences designed to calm the nervous system, reconnect the self, and cultivate inner spaciousness.
Her work combines sound therapy, ritual and intuitive guidance to create immersive environments that support emotional restoration, presence, and embodiment.
With a background in the healing arts and a deep commitment to trauma-aware, inclusive practice, Ciara works with individuals, groups, and organisations seeking meaningful, non-performative wellness experiences. Her signature offering — the Floating Sound Bath — is an innovative, sensory journey that blends sound healing with visualisation and gentle ceremony. It has been described as “profoundly grounding,” “emotionally resonant,” and “an experience that lingers long after the sound fades.”
Mahala Healing was created in response to a common need Ciara saw in modern life: a place to slow down, feel safe, and reconnect, not through force, but through subtlety. She believes that healing is not one-size-fits-all, and her work honours the many ways it can unfold.
Whether holding space in a hotel spa, wellness studio, workplace, or private session in your own home or her studio in Vaucluse, Ciara brings warmth, professionalism, and emotional intelligence to every experience she offers.
The real me...
Born in the US, raised in Australia, and proud of my Filipino roots, I carry a little piece of everywhere I’ve been. Before life got serious, I was carefree and full of light, always chasing joy and finding fun wherever I could.
My young adult years were some of my darkest days, but through many, many years of healing and with the unwavering love of my partner, I made it through and found the beauty in life again. That journey is what inspires me to hold space for others; because I know what it feels like to lose yourself, and what it feels like to come home.
I’m kind, loyal, and generous (or so my friends say), and I value authenticity above all, showing up as we truly are. My perfect day starts with waking up to the sun and walking by the ocean, feeling the salt air and hearing the waves crash against the cliffs. It always includes a beautiful meal shared with family and friends, quiet moments with my husband, kids, and our fur baby, and time to simply be.
A lesson I’ve learned (and keep learning) is how to love myself first and foremost, because when we fill our own cup, we have so much more to give. I believe that no matter what we’ve been through, we each have the power to decide what shapes us, and at the heart of it, we’re all just looking to feel safe, seen, and whole. And it’s a privilege to help guide people on that journey.
Ciara’s credentials
Ciara has completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with InYoga (Sydney), as well as a 50-hour Meditation Teacher Training, deepening her understanding of embodied movement, breath, and the inner landscape. These practices inform her approach to sound healing, allowing her to guide others with presence, precision, and care that is grounded in both philosophy and lived experience.
Ciara received her formal training through The Sound Healers Academy, a US-based program that is internationally accredited by leading bodies including YACEP (Yoga Alliance), the Complementary Medical Association (CMA), The Sound Healers Association, and the International Sound Therapy Association.
This globally recognised certification reflects a standard of integrity and depth not widely available within Australian training programs, aligning her practice with the highest level of sound healing education worldwide.
Ciara is also committed to expanding her skills set and knowledge base and is doing further study into different modalities to complement her current offering.
Why “Mahala”?
Mahala Healing takes its name from Mahala, a word rich with history and meaning across cultures. First and foremost, it comes for a Tagalog term, “mahal”, meaning love; in Native American traditions, it means tender. Historically, Mahala was also given to those born during times of illness, to healers, or to commemorate recovery and hope for wellbeing, a name carrying the energy of resilience and care. Today, Mahala embodies not only its cultural roots but also a modern spirit of independence, wisdom, and deep connection, reflecting the healing journeys we each undertake in our own colours and stories.