I hold a weekly Gong Bath, Mondays 7.30-8.15pm, at Mytholmroyd Community Centre.
£8 drop-in (payment to me directly, rather than to the Centre)
contact me to book or drop-in / please contact me in advance of your first session
What is a Gong Bath?
A gong bath is an opportunity to enter a deeply relaxing or meditative state, simply by letting the sounds and vibrations of the gong wash over and through you. No active participation is required – you don’t need to listen in a particular way, or have a focus, or any goal or expectation. It’s enough simply to find a position that you’re comfortable in (lying or seated) and close your eyes or soften your gaze.
The session will generally start with a period of guided relaxation to prepare us for the gong bath. After the gong bath, we take the time to rest in silence before a guided ‘coming back together’. I’m around for questions and reflections before and after each session.
How does it work?
Sound can have a powerful impact on the nervous system. Our bodies receive the sound vibrations of the gong which in turn become the electrical signalling of neurons in the brain. It is suggested that the rich and complex sounds from the gong, containing so many different frequencies, can support the shift of brainwaves from a regular awake and doing state (beta waves), to slower waveforms commonly associated with states of deep rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.
Research in this field is in its infancy though practices of sound healing, around the world, are not. (Note I am not a scientist or a healer).
How will I feel?
Personally I find gong baths extraordinarily soothing – and have a palpable sense of mental and physical un-gripping. But no two gong baths have been the same. And just as no two gong baths have been the same for me, I find that each participant has their own unique experience. This may include feelings of relaxation or revitalisation, sleepiness (or falling asleep!), visualisations, colours, fragments of old memories, heaviness, lightness, time passing quickly or slowly, feelings of expansion, release, contentment, connection… there’s always something new to hear after each session.
My intention is to offer this beautiful practice – being bathed in sound vibrations – as a space for your own personal experience and exploration.
What do I need to wear/bring?
Gong baths can be experienced lying down or seated in a chair. Chairs, yoga mats and head supports are available. The room is warm, but we do cool down when we’re not moving, so wear layers and cosy socks, and maybe bring a blanket. Some people use eyebags, I have a few available.
Contraindications
This is an adult-only session.
Though gong baths are a low-risk activity, they are commonly contraindicated for those in their first trimester of pregnancy or who have a pacemaker, or for those with un-managed mental health conditions. If you have mental or physical health conditions, please check with your medical health professional about the suitability of this practice for you.