Join Sabine some Tuesdays for Gong Bath in Potters Bar
In my gong bath, I am using two Chinese gongs that are played in a therapeutic way and produce sounds and vibrations to bring about a very deep state of relaxation, wellbeing, healing and to help improving some ailments and health conditions.
Participants are “bathed” in gong sound waves. There is no water involved and clothes are not removed. Most individuals are lying down with their eyes closed on yoga mats, with a pillow and a blanket to keep warm and rest in a comfortable position so that they can slowly drift away into a deep state of relaxation.
Initially, the gongs are played very gently and softly to slowly melt away the stresses of the day and bring your mind and consciousness inward to deeper levels. As the session progresses, the gongs are played using various specific techniques so that the volume and the rhythm change frequently ranging from regular and low to deeper and more “challenging”. However, the volume is controlled by the playing techniques and does not reach unbearable levels.
The sounds and vibrations produced by the gongs create a phenomenon known as entrainment or auditory driving, which result in lowering the brain wave frequencies to levels that are very beneficial for your wellbeing and health.
Basically, when we are awake, alert or in a state of active awareness, our brainwave frequencies are said to be between 13 to 30 Hertz (Hz) and are called Beta brainwaves. The sounds and vibrations produced by the gongs result in the brainwave frequencies lowering first to 8 to 12 Hz, a state described as Alpha brainwaves, and may next take you to an even deeper level, known as Theta brainwaves, during which the frequencies of the brain are said to be between 4 to 7 Hz.
In Alpha and Theta brainwaves, people are in a very deep state of relaxation and may experience what could be described as an altered state of consciousness. In this state of consciousness, individuals might feel connected to everything or to something bigger, feel at peace, bliss out; conflicts and contradictions may resolve; emotional blockages may be lifted; anger, grief, jealousy, stress may melt away; mystical, spiritual or religious experience may rise; access to intuitive knowledge and insightfulness may happen; to only name a few experiences that may occur. This is far from being an exhaustive list. People reports many other experiences.
To bring the session to an end, I then play various percussion instruments, which still have therapeutic effects, to bring you back gently to your normal waking state so that you can safely go back home.
Other forms of sound therapy include himalayan singing bowls, crystal bowls and drumming therapy.
Please note: In extremely rare occasions, some participants have reported less pleasant experiences linked to a phenomenon that sound therapists describe as “threat of ego death” and is reported as: “I thought I was never going to be able to come back”, “I had a bad trip”, “I was feeling unwell, unhappy”, etc. In this case, the participant just need to open their eyes and quietly sit down to come back to their normal waking state (Beta brainwaves).