A beginner's guide to Gong Baths

Gongs have become incredible popular in recent years, but this beautiful practice has its roots in ancient shamanic healing, along with being a communication method that has been used by humans for thousands of years. The gongs are often made from metal and are formed in a disc shape. These discs are then struck with a beater to create their unique sound.

Gong Baths are a form of meditation that brings in sound healing qualities. The participants are bathed in the relaxing sound of the gong during the session and the vibrations of the instrument passes through the environment.

During a session you will be asked to lie on the floor, on something comfortable like a yoga mat. It is important that you bring a blanket with you and you place it over yourself at the start of the session. In some cases you may take part in some breathing exercises or mantras to help you relax. The gongs will then be introduced into the session. The vibrations of the instruments is absorbed into the room and into our bodies. This can help to shift any energies that have become stagnant or stuck in our systems. This altering of energies in the body can help to have relaxing and transformative effects on the body, the mind and the spirit.

There are a number of reasons that we can find energy within our bodies becomes stagnant or stuck. The everyday stresses and strains of everyday life, as well as impacts from the people and environment around us can lead to stress, tension, anxiety and in some cases trauma.

The energy centres of our bodies are the chakras. There are 7 principle chakras that we focus on during holistic healing activities. These include:

·         Root Chakra – Muladhara

·         Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana

·         Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura

·         Heart Chakra – Anahata

·         Throat Chakra – Vishuddha

·         Third Eye Chakra – Anja

·         Crown Chakra – Sahasrara

Gong Baths can help to “tune” you back into the natural vibrations of your body and they can also help with synchronising our brainwaves with the vibrations of the gong.  This can then create harmony throughout the body as well as helping to give us an overall sense of positive wellbeing.

There have been a number of studies that have found that music therapy has positive impacts on our bodies and minds. A 2017 study noted that it can help to reduce some symptoms of depression and also increase our overall mood. Another study back in 2013 also noted that music in general can help with stress reduction and improving our immune systems. When looking specifically at gong baths a study in 2015 reported that participants found the vibrations of the sound both healing and relaxing.

 If you want to experience the power of a Gong Bath you can join in with one of the sessions being held at the Isbourne. Alicia Davies will be holding a number of sessions for those aged 18 years and over. You can book your tickets online at https://www.isbourne.org/events/in-house-gong-bath-sound-sanctuary-with-alicia

Category

• Wellbeing Advice

Tags

• anxiety
• holistic health
• meditation
• mindfulness
• wellbeing