As you lay comfortably on the floor or sit in a chair with the sounds of the gongs and other instruments washing over and around you, bathing you in the sounds and vibrations the cells in your body start to entrain with the vibration of the gongs. This is a sound bath. It is a deeply relaxing experience, which, for some, can also be a very invigorating. Each sound bath is unique and each one will throw up different emotions every time. The sounds and vibrations not only ease you into a contemplative state or even a deep sleep they can revitalise the immune system and work on any organs that are unbalanced. This is not woo woo – this is scientifically proven.
The sound waves created by the gongs are difficult for the human brain to follow so just surrender and let the sound of the gongs waft around you, caress you. Let their vibrations enter every cell in your body. It’s not a musical performance so don’t try to find a melody. Resist the temptation to peek – just close your eyes and surrender to the sounds letting them take you on whatever journey is right for you on that day at that time. Everyone experiences the sound of the gongs in a unique way. For some it’s a very physical and sensations will be felt in the body. Others see symbols, pictures, colours. Some people drift into a deep tranquil, meditative state of being or even slip into a deep sleep with little or nothing remembered.
The Gong Bath Step by Step
I recommend that you wear looser fitting clothes for a gong bath.
At the start of a sound bath, I will invite you to either sit in a comfortable chair with your hands resting lightly in your lap or, preferably, to lie down on a yoga or camping mat with a blanket and pillow. When you are comfortable, I will talk you through some breathing exercises and then I’ll start to gently play the gongs.
After continuously playing the gongs for 30 or 50 minutes, depending on the length of the gong bath, I start to play more and more gently until the gongs fade away to nothing. When the gongs have finished sounding, I will gently use instruments such as the ocean drum or the Huara Sacha Chacapa fan to start bringing you back into the room. I will then give you some moments of complete silence (Shunyata) to allow the sounds to continue to resound in your body. Then I will ask you to become aware of your surroundings, stretch gently and come back into the room.
After a gong bath it is important to take it easy for a while and especially drink water to hydrate your body.
The Gongs and Instruments I use
Every time I play the gongs they produce different sounds even though I’m using the same mallets and striking the gongs in my usual way. They have an uncanny way of knowing what vibrations are needed.
The gongs I currently work with are Uranus, Chiron and Niburu which are tuned to the planets (based on Hans Cousteau’s research). I complement these with the beautiful tones of a 20″ Symphonic, a 32″ Symphonic gong. In addition I often use some of the following instruments during a gong bath: Tibetan singing bowls, an ocean drum, thunder stick, tsingshaw bells, nutshell shakers, Huara Sacha Chacapa fan, Koshi wind chimes.
Join one of my Gong Baths
Why not join a Gong Bath by Zoom ? The dates are listed here.
Download available
You can buy downloads of my gong baths in my shop. Just put on your headphones, relax and let the sounds of the gongs lull you into a peaceful, contemplative state of wellbeing.
Are Gong Baths for everyone ? – No !
There are some situations where gong baths are not recommended – these are:
- Pregnancy
- Tinnitus
- Epilepsy
- Pacemakers
- Severe osteoporosis
- Sensitivity to sound or conditions triggered by sound
- Schizophrenia/Bi-polar or any unstable mental condition
- Recent surgery with metal plates/pins (Last 12 months)
- Stage 4 cancer
Experiences of some of my sound bathers
I felt great afterwards and the next day. As if I had been tensed up and everything just went WOOOoooooooh! I also had an infection that had been painful and that dissipated too. I am still feeling the benefits. I have had 4 gong baths now, but the one with you was my first solo. I don’t know if this is the reason but I feel the benefits have lasted longer.” Jilly, Somerset.
Relaxing. Couldn’t identify location of sound. Unaware of Gillian moving. Drifted into sleep and experienced dreams were curtailed by changes in the sounds. Experienced brief spell of feeling hot. Jenny, Hertfordshire
I realised that the sounds were lifting me up and I let them. I was on top of a mountain with some olive groves stretching out before me. I then flew all over the world experiencing wonderful things – alone and with my family. Then I went to each of them in turn, took their health problems, threw them up in the air and then when everyone’s problems were in the air I went up and popped them into bright shining lights to make them dissipate. Then I went back to the mountain. I felt relaxed which is a rare occurrence.” Mandy, Devon
“The singing bowls got me into it. At the beginning I felt as if I was entering a forest. The first 15 to 20 minutes I felt I was on a journey – to a forest, then a mountain and then in a cave. I could feel the vibrations they came up through my body from my toes, up my legs and through my body. I felt like a mermaid swimming because of the vibrations. At one point I felt as if I was being tickled.” Lily, London.
From the start I felt really held and safe. Flumy sent me into orbit and at some time found myself sinking into the ground. Temperature dipped and found myself drifting in and out of awareness – deep bliss and loved the small Symphonic mixed in wit the big one! Beautiful over and under tomes. Visions of yellow. Shallow breathe and then my sister appeared smiling. Cass. Devon.