Question 1

What happens during a gong bath?

Accepted Answer

You will be invited to lay down on a yoga mat and get cosy with a pillow and blanket. Please let me know if you have back issues and an air bed can be arranged. Some people bring their own foam and pillows or even chairs to sit on. You will be guided into a relaxed state through breathwork and meditation before being transported into another state of consciousness. During this time you become very relaxed and may even fall asleep. Before being guided out, you will have an essential period of silence.

Question 2

What do I need to do?

Accepted Answer

The most important aspect of allowing yourself to get the most out of the sound bath is to come with an open heart and mind. This is a window of time just for you to fully relax and let go of any tension and stress. The important thing to remember is that every gong bath is a different experience! This means letting go of any expectation you have for the sound bath.

Question 3

What can I expect after a gong bath?

Accepted Answer

Each experience can be different but people often leaving feeling fully in the moment, deeply relaxed and at peace or they can feel particularly energised and focused.

You may also feel a little spaced out so it is essential to ground, rehydrate and continue to be gentle and caring of yourself and your needs. Movement of the body and gentle exercise supports the detoxification process.

The experience may have brought up some awareness of aspects of your subconscious that you can now address. Occasionally, it can also bring on what's known as a detox reaction- a temporary worsening of symptoms as you release stored stress and emotions. If you feel particularly fatigued or anxious afterwards due to this stress release and are unsure of how to work through it, please reach out to me at any time.

Question 4

How does sound heal?

Accepted Answer

It is important to clarify that sound healing is used as a tool for allowing the body to heal itself but is not seen as a cure. It can be used to alleviate the painful symptoms of physical conditions and to support mental wellbeing.

How it works:
We perceive the sound of the various therapeutic instruments used through our ears but we also feel its vibrations as the waves travel through the tissues of our body.

When sound reaches our ears, it is conveyed to the brain via the auditory nerve.  As the sound waves are received through the auditory nerve, there is communication to the brain which then sends these waves out as signals to the vagus nerve.  This enables the brain to monitor and receive data related to breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and digestion.

This process activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a state of relaxation known as "rest and digest." In this state, deep healing can take place.  When we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, without intentionally taking the time- through meditation, yoga or other techniques- to activate the vagus nerve we remain in “fight or flight” where we can experience anxiety, stress and other ailments. If we stay in this state long enough, serious illness can ensue. This in turn affects our digestive system. When our digestive system is disrupted this can exacerbate any physical and mental health issues.

Question 5

Is there a difference in how high and low frequencies affect us?

Accepted Answer

Higher-pitched sounds affect the surface layers of our body, while lower-pitched sounds penetrate deeper into organs and bones. The slower waves produced by lower frequencies can linger longer within the body, which is why we feel these vibrations more intensely which explains a lot of people’s love of heavy bass music!

Question 6

What does an altered state of consciousness feel like?

Accepted Answer

These natural experiences may indicate that various parts of your brain have shifted into lower brainwave frequencies, such as Alpha (8-12Hz) or Theta (4-8Hz), reflecting an altered state of consciousness as your right hemisphere responds to the lower frequencies of sound.

Imagery: Visualizing colors, patterns, or scenes with your eyes closed. 
Physical Relaxation: Muscles feel relaxed, tension drains from the body, and breathing becomes steady and calm. 
Altered Sense of Time: The experience may feel much shorter or longer than it actually is, with a heightened sense of being present in the moment. 
Altered Sense of Space: Feeling of floating or sinking, where spatial boundaries seem to dissolve and you experience a sense of vastness.
Insight and Clarity: Gaining new understanding or solutions to personal problems, or experiencing enhanced intuition.
Positive Mood: Experiencing joy, elation, bliss, tranquility, and calmness. 
Sense of Unity: Feeling a deep connection with everything and everyone, perceiving everything as energy. Connection to the Sacred: Feeling connected to something profound, sacred, or holy.
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Question 7

What is the difference between a sound bath and a gong bath?

Accepted Answer

These terms are both used quite loosely.The term sound bath can be used to describe a treatment that incorporates a range of instruments or just crystal/ Himalayan sound bowls. Whereas a gong bath may only includes gongs or the practitioner chooses to focus mostly on playing the gong.

I choose to predominantly use gongs in my treatments as I have a deep love for their depth of sound and the fact they are particularly powerful in helping to shift stuck energy and the release of stress at a deep level.

Question 8

What happens at the end of a gong bath?

Accepted Answer

You are left in a period of silence, this is called Shunyata.  It can be a profound and vital part of the experience that supports the integration of the deep cellular healing you have experienced. It allows you to readjust gently back into reality!