What is a Gong Bath?
Though the Gong has become much more prevalent in recent years it is still yet to take root in main stream consciousness and consequently I find myself regularly answering this question.
The term ‘Gong Bath’ was coined by Grand Gong Master Don Conreaux and is so called because the listener is bathed in the sound vibrations of the gong. The Body Mind and Spirit are wrapped in a blanket of sound. It is an true immersion in sound.
Like all good things, the form of a Gong bath is beautifully simple. Participants lie on a matt under a blanket and are lead to a point of relaxation through guided meditation and connection with the breath. The Gong is the Centre piece and is played for 45 minutes, however, many other instruments are used including Tibetan singing bowls, voice, shruti box, flute, guitar and various other noise makers. These usually appear at the beginning and the end to aid with the relaxation process and then to gently bring participants back to the ‘real world’.
Though the form is simple the effects on the listener are much harder to quantify and undoubtedly the best way to appreciate it is through your own personal experience. Another term for the Gong Bath is Gong Meditation. This is because it induces in the listener states more usually attained by really experienced meditators. The low frequency oscillations of the gong entrain the brain to theta and delta brainwave states. These states are associated with increased creativity and problem solving, moments of insight, visions and deep relaxation. In a state of deep relaxation the mind/bodies natural restorative and rejuvenating ability acts at its highest efficiency free from any resistance. As one of my Teachers puts it, ‘The Gong doesn’t heal, rather it allows the listener to heal themselves’. Stress, anxiety and trauma we experience in our lives can lead to dis-ease and discord in the mind/body system. By bathing in the beautiful, complex and perfect sonic geometry of the gong, we are restored to a place of harmony and balance.
Every gong bath is different and the experiences are vast and varied. some of the effects listeners report experiencing are:
The slowing of thought and occasionally complete cessation.
Deep relaxation.
seeing colours or visions somewhat akin to dreaming.
moments of insight or inspiration.
vibrations, tingling or twitching as energy is moved in the physical body.
a sense of lightness, peace or even bliss.
experiencing emotions laughter or tears.
Unfortunately words cannot do the experience justice, however in recent years there has been a rapid rise in people being drawn to the Gong and training in the delivery of a high quality Gong experience so, if you are a newbie, it should be easy to find a practitioner near you.
My most regular Gong Bath activities (in normal non covid times) is with Sarah Marten at the lovely Studio Britford In Salisbury Wiltshire. You can find out more info here
…….and for those who maybe interested the current collection of gongs I work with are, 42” Gongland Universe Gong, 36” Paiste Pluto, 32” Paiste Symphonic, 30” Paiste Symphonic, 26” Paiste Sound Creation Earth, 24” Paiste Uranus, 21” Gongland Faith, 21” Gongland Silent Peace and a whole host of other lovely instruments and noise making tools.
