Gong Bath Meditation
What is a Gong Bath Meditation?
Gong Bath Meditation could be thought of as just another fad activity but it is not. Gongs have been used as shamanic healing tools, celebratory instruments and a method of communication for thousands of years, and are undoubtedly part of the tradition that is sound healing, which uses techniques such as chanting, drums and Tibetan bowls to name few. Sound has been used therapeutically for thousands of years to relax, soothe and de-stress, as well as to heal and alter consciousness.
Many cultures have a tradition of using sound in this way, and ancient sound instruments, including gongs, have been found dating back many centuries. In some Eastern cultures it has long been realized that the beneficial effect actually goes much deeper than just a sense of emotional well-being; harmonious sounds also have a healing effect on the body at a cellular level. In India the ancient science of the effect of musical vibrations on the human organism is called Nada Yoga. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks also realized the remarkable healing power of sound, and often composed and performed music with the purpose of healing. In modern times Sound Healing has begun to enjoy a renaissance, and we are starting to recall the ancient wisdom of our ancestors in the use of these sacred old instruments.
A gong bath is a form of sound healing meditation growing in popularity as a modern healing technique. It is referred to as a bath due to participants being immersed in the vibrations of the instruments during a session. No knowledge or experience is required and it can be viewed as a form of meditation accessible to everyone, rather than a chore or another item on your to-do list.
Participants lay down comfortably under a blanket and the gong session is often preceded by breathing exercises or mantra chanting to relax and prepare you for the experience. The gongs are then gradually introduced and the vibrations of the gongs are absorbed throughout the entire body, which can help shift stagnant energies. Gong baths are often described as having transformational effects on body, mind, and spirit. The best way to understand is to experience it.
What are the benefits of a Gong Bath Meditation?
When something within us is out of tune, it can cause dis-ease to arise in our bodies. Factors such as stress, anger, trauma and environment in our daily lives may negatively impact us which can then manifest on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. The vibrations produced in a gong bath help to “tune” your body and therefore aid in restoring harmony and resonance throughout.
Another process that takes place is entrainment – the synchronization of our fluctuating brainwaves with the stable frequency of the gong, which our brains acclimate to and unify with. This can also help create overall harmony within our bodies.
The sound of a gong helps the brain reach deep relaxation – specifically the delta and theta brain wave states, which are the slowest brain waves in humans. We tend to reach these states during daydreaming or deep sleep, and they are known to aid relaxation, creativity and natural healing. Your brain will find it challenging to follow the sounds of the gong, so you will likely enter a deep meditative state at least once during the session.
Gong Bath Meditations are highly rejuvenating for the body and bring about an overall sense of relaxation, which can reduce stress as well as help develop a better ability to cope with stress, help move emotional blockages from trauma, and even stimulate altered states of consciousness. They may also encourage greater overall stillness and contentment.
Sound healing can alleviate or cure many conditions such as:
- Anxiety disorder
- Stress
- Pain
- PTSD
- Mood swings or negative emotions
- Depression
- Psychological and behavioral disorders
It can also help manifest emotional and physical healing:
- Relaxation
- Improved memory and concentration
- Improved sleep
- Clarity and balance
- A healthier immune system
- Enhanced creativity
- Overall heightened awareness – of self and the environment
How Gong Bath Meditation Works?
To enable an understanding of how Sound Healing works, it is useful to realize that everything in creation is actually energy, vibrating at different frequencies. Modern physicists continue to find evidence to support this belief. For instance – dense, apparently inanimate objects like rocks, look like solid matter, but are in fact forms of energy vibrating at lower frequencies. At the other end of the spectrum, light vibrates at a very high frequency. Everything in the universe is vibrating energy.
As human beings we are also vibrating energy forms. Our bodies consist of around 70% water, which is an excellent conductor for sound. When bathed in sound, different areas of the body respond to the sounds made, by locking in or “entraining” to the sound and beginning to vibrate at the same frequencies, thus bringing harmony and healing. Every part of the body has its own resonant frequency. If there is an imbalance or stagnation (stuck energy) anywhere, the vast array of sounds made by the gongs will stimulate the body cells to vibrate in sympathy and literally tune them up. Sound also works on the subtle energy body that surrounds the physical body, which is where imbalance and dis-ease manifest first, before appearing in the physical dimension. Using the gongs, we can help to clear energy blockages and thus prevent illness and disease before it reaches 3D reality. This is very sacred work.
What should I expect during a Gong Bath Meditation?
Each person’s experience is, of course, unique but it’s possible for gong bathers to have a range of experiences from visions, to epiphanies, to creative solutions, and even psychedelic-like journeys. As gong baths are a mode of meditation through which the mind can become quiet, you may find that inspiration, new ideas, or breakthroughs come to you.
The harmonics of the sound healing retune any emotional disharmony within us. You may experience a range of emotions and reactions such as laughing, crying, feeling scared or angry, and anything in between. Many people feel a sense of bliss and peace after a gong bath.
On a physical level, you might experience vibration in the body due to the intense and powerful sound-waves and vibrations produced during gong baths. Some people encounter this energetic clearing in the form of shaking or twitching in the body, usually through the hands and feet.