Who we are

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YYC Drum Circles was formed to bring the healing power of the integrative drum circle to our own community at WRCA, and to organizations and individuals across Alberta. Bearing witness to the growing chaos, uncertainty, violence, and divisiveness around the globe, we also see a dramatic rise in anxiety, depression, emotional stress, and sometimes despair.  Therapeutic drum circles bring medicine and healing in the form of fun and rhythm. Drum circles have grown into a thriving platform for music enthusiasts everywhere.

Our Mission is to facilitate therapeutic drum circles for individuals and organizations who wish to experience the uplifting power of rhythm for mental or emotional healing. As passionate advocates for emotional wellness, we believe drum circles inject Vitamin Fun into our lives, boosting a person’s overall sense of well being.

Based on Research by Dr. Bruce Perry, neurosequential reprogramming is the effect of addressing the whole brain, starting in the lower brain, and then moving up to more complex regions and functions. Simply put, if we calm the lower brain first, the executive functions are more accessible as a result. Research shows us that regular rhythmical activity returns us to the state of consciousness we were in for some 9 months in our mothers womb. There we were safe, warm, calm, and peaceful. There was no pain or drama, just peace, and the sound and vibration of our mother's heart beating. Introducing a regular rhythmical activity, such as drumming, to a mental therapeutic mental health regime has been shown to have a profound effect on the patient, enabling them to be more receptive to other, more cognitive forms of therapy after the drumming has been applied.

Emotional or mental challenges such as anxiety, depression, self harm, low self-esteem, fear, anger, guilt, and shame can all be reduced, and some even dissolved when an individual or group drumming activity is introduced to a therapeutic treatment plan.

How did we end up in 2024 hosting our very own drum circle?

This is a fun story.

Don has been drumming since the 1970’s, and has played professionally for over 3 decades. He met Chris in 1997, and they have enjoyed 26 years together and counting. It was while on vacation the two of them stumbled upon a drum circle. Imagine strolling on a beach on a Sunday afternoon and hear the pleasant pulse of drumming in the distance. When the two of them walked up, a random stranger handed the both of them a drum to join in. Don wasn’t familiar with playing a djembe, but he figured it out pretty quick. Chris was over the top thrilled to be able to join in. Little did they know this would be a pivotal moment in their lives. Thank you, Maui.

Chris knew she needed to do this again, and after returning home she wondered if there was such a thing a drum circles in Calgary. It didn’t take too long to find Circles of Rhythm in Inglewood. It wasn’t drumming on a beach at sunset… but it was drumming at home and this was good medicine.

Excited and nervous, this dynamic duo wandered into Circles of Rhythm. Chris fell in love at this moment. Seeing a circle of people, all ages, drumming together on all kinds of drums… making music together… the pulse… the vibration filled the air and tickled her body. 

Week after week Don and Chris made their way to Inglewood Community Hall to see Julien LePage take them on an incredible, joyous healing journey through rhythm and soundscapes. To be honest, the experience is more than drumming and soundscapes, the ICDC in Inglewood is a safe space to just be yourself, as is. You could drum or not drum. Both are ok. I think they have a secret code of kindness 😊 The facilitators and all the volunteers make you feel welcomed.

They admired and were so inspired by their experience at Circles of Rhythm that both Don and Chris took the ICDC Facilitator Program Level 1 & 2.

Julien’s leadership fits perfectly alongside his drumming and musician skills to teach aspiring facilitators… it’s not just about the drumming. After a time, they began assisting Julien facilitating drum circles around Alberta.

In Chris’s heart she knew that drum circles needed to be happening in communities everywhere. Anger is everywhere and harder to shake than ever. You can drum that out and shake it off. How can we move mountains to make this happen faster. A fire is lit.

Circles of Rhythm has been offering Integrated Community Drum Circles for 25+ years. It’s time to spread the love around, starting in 2024 with YYC Drum Circles in Willow Park.