I recently enjoyed a three-hour gong bath at Harry Edwards Spiritual Healing Sanctuary overlooking the Surrey Hills.
‘Gong bath?’ Well, since you ask….
One of the oldest instruments of healing, gongs produce sounds which stimulate brain wave frequencies associated with clear and peaceful states of mind. Designed to help with relaxing, rejuvenation and stress reduction when bathed in its sound vibrations, gong baths have recently become popular. Therapeutic gong sounds vibrate the bones and organs of the body which impact the nervous system by slowing down heart and respiratory rates to induce a deep state of tranquillity.
According to gong-master Don Conreaux, “sound and vibration help facilitate a deep sense of peace, release tension and blocked energy, and balance the energy centres in the body. They are working at a cellular level to re-balance the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies.”
How does this work out in practice? We were given a brief introduction to gong mediation and asked what we wanted out of the class. At that point I wondered if I was in the right place: everyone else sounded depressed or anxious, whereas I was plain curious.
We all lay on yoga mats inside a marquee while the gong was being played, starting at a low pitch and slowly getting higher. I felt the vibrations through my body and it helped me to zone out; indeed, I fell into a trance and remained there until the teacher brought me back to full consciousness.
Once the ceremony had finished, I felt extremely calm, relaxed and a bit lightheaded. Surprisingly, these feelings stayed with me for a couple of days.
In my opinion gong meditation is more effective than regular meditation. Highly recommended.
