Going, Going … Gong!

 Then the snoring began … and it's all I could hear! 

I suppose I should go back a few steps though. 

In the interests of finding new ways to settle my mind, I thought I'd try a gong bath. 

Relaxing is not something I do very well, even during the times I consider my most relaxed, I'm like a snoozing dog. To the onlooker, I'm out for the count, but in reality, I'm ready to pounce at the slightest noise.

Sleeping is tricky for me, I can often be so tired I can hardly sit upright but as soon as I lay to sleep my mind is like the houses of Parliament full of politicians all competing for the chance to be heard. So being able to switch off whilst laying on a yoga mat in a room full of other horizontal human folk was a big ask. 

For those that know nothing of the world gongs here is a bit of info that was plucked from the ‘interweb’

Gong baths are a type of inactive meditation, where you “bathe” in the healing vibrations of sound. Using sound as a form of healing dates back to ancient cultures. Records of using gongs have surfaced from as early as ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman times.

Gong baths reduce stress and tension, which in turn increases blood circulation. This helps bring down our blood pressure and improve our overall mood.

the blood pressure lowers, the heart rate lowers and the body goes into healing mode.

So, all that said, what was your experience of the whole gong bath thing Wally? Thanks for asking, I'll tell you. 

When I first arrived with my little mat roll and cushion there were others all lying around the room on nice comfy-looking inflatable mattresses and covered in blankets. I immediately felt like I'd really underestimated my ability to stay comfortable for the hour. The carpet felt warm as I set myself up. In the corner, I later realised it was warm because of the underfloor heating. This eventually made me feel as if I was lying on a simmering frying pan, So hot! Thicker mat next time Wally!

In the centre of this large warm, carpeted room was a big pile of apparatus, such as hanging symbol-looking things and lots of smaller sound bowls and wooden percussive instruments. I settled on my stupidly thin mat feeling the arch of my back cracking as it settled into the new position. (God, I'm old!). 

I was handed an eye mask, the lights were dimmed and the session quietly started with some words about acceptance and love, nothing heavy, or anything that might have leaned towards this being some kind of religion-linked experience, good, I wasn't prepared for that at all. Then noises that sounded to me like a vacuum cleaner was being pushed around us, came into my ears, I started to imagine a comedy sketch where the host of the session used it as a way of catching up on housework, and then I wondered if I was about to laugh. Got to get a grip and take this seriously, I thought. 

After this came very obviously hollow wooden sounds and something being tapped, no rhythm or beat, completely devoid of musicality in fact, just sound. This was doing very little for me, but I accepted it for what it was, the slow introduction. At the point in which the first sound bowls were introduced to the mix, I heard what I first mistook as a door opening, my mind is now making things up. No, hold on, it was a door, then whispers“I'm sorry we are late, can we still join?” Great, I was already struggling to centre myself as it was, and now this amazing soundscape was filled with whispers and people setting up mats near me. 

As the hour went on I heard some incredible noises and I have to say that about halfway through I had a very strange moment. My body was completely relaxed,very unusual for me, but my mind was so unbelievably busy. It was like laying on a beautiful beach while being shouted at by the entire population of Lincolnshire. 

It was as if my mind and body had separated, the body was made of clouds and soft things, while my mind was jagged and made of knives!

Just as I felt myself start to slip under the spell of these amazing sounds, someone near to me relaxed a bit too much and fell asleep. The sound of heavier breathing, just on the brink of becoming a snore filled my head and bang! Just like that, I was back in the room, and that was all I could hear, I just couldn’t tune it out for a while. 

The increasing drone of the gongs and sound bowls got extremely intense and I was starting to feel uncomfortable with the whole thing, surely it can't escalate any further? I’ve tried to work out just exactly what it was that I was struggling with, was it a rise of emotion that is usually so well squashed down? Maybe, it definitely wasn't a physical pain or feelings of not being mechanically comfortable (my back had yielded by this point). I mean it's just sound, it can't affect me physically can it?

Well yes, actually it can, and it did as at one point my extremities started to develop a tingling feeling. It started at my fingers and low down in the legs. As it increased, it spread, until there were waves of a very pronounced and obvious, well, what can only be described as ‘fizzing’. I was definitely not prepared for and it did freak me out a little, just as I was getting used to it, it subsided and I got my body back. The session slowly faded down to silence and we all lay in this state for a few minutes as we were guided back to the real world with a view to ending.

Wow, even though it all got quite intense it was the most amazing experience that I will definitely repeat. Who knows what I will uncover or feel as I do more of it?

When I sat up I felt like I'd been sleeping, I was heavy and my eyes were a bit blurry, I spoke about my experiences to the session leader and it was suggested to me that this was perhaps due to it being the first time I'd done it. Finding one's mind racing whilst trying to relax in this way was a common occurrence. It was suggested I come more often, this would then subside. By the time I rolled up my mat and said my thank yous and goodbyes, I was feeling ok again. 

When I arrived home I looked in to see if there were any negative effects of gong baths after my slightly odd experience. Some people report ‘overstimulation’; it could be a physical sensation or an overwhelming emotional response. Some even get headaches and dizziness after a session.

Something else I found out that was slightly more concerning, was that because of the physical stimulation on the body, from the frequencies and vibrations of the sound produced by the gongs and bowls, it is quite possible that metal plates and fragments in the body from say, an injury repair can vibrate and move. I mean I don't have any I don't think, but still something to consider if you like the idea of a session for yourself  

As I left I was told to drink plenty of water that night, I had wine … What? Surely there's water in that!

So, overall I really enjoyed it and I found it a positive experience. I’m not entirely sure that I got all that was available to get from this session, but this is most likely due to it being my first time. Even normal 10-minute meditations are difficult for me as I find it difficult to switch off Brian the brain. I was apprehensive to try it of course, but I needn't have been, it was a very friendly and accepting environment to be in and  I’m definitely doing it again.

To find out more about gong baths you can contact Sally at hello@rosewellcentre.co.uk

For more of this type of therapy go to The Roswell Centre website. https://rosewellcentre.co.uk/

Photo by Manja Vitolic on Unsplash