Gong baths - What are they?

This article was written by Kaitlin Colucci, Founder of the KC Nutrition Clinic.

What is a gong bath?

A gong bath is a form of sound healing meditation growing in popularity as a modern healing technique. It is referred to as a bath due to participants being immersed in the vibrations of the instruments during a session. No knowledge or experience is required, and it can be viewed as a form of meditation accessible to everyone.

Participants lay down comfortably under a blanket, often with a blind fold so you are in complete darkness. The gongs are then gradually introduced, and the vibrations of the gongs are absorbed throughout the entire body. Other sound healing tools such as crystal bowls, chimes, drums, and rattles may also be used to create a diverse soundscape. Gong baths are often described as having transformational effects on body, mind, and spirit. The best way to understand is to experience it.

What are the benefits of a gong bath?

When something within us is out of tune, it can cause dis-ease to arise in our bodies. Factors such as stress, anger, trauma, and environment in our daily lives may negatively impact us which can then manifest on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. The theory behind a gong bath is that the vibrations produced in a gong bath help to “tune” your body and therefore aid in restoring harmony and resonance throughout.

Another process that takes place is entrainment – the synchronisation of our fluctuating brainwaves with the stable frequency of the gong, which our brains acclimate to and unify with. This can also help create overall harmony within our bodies.

The sound of a gong helps the brain reach deep relaxation – specifically the delta and theta brain wave states, which are the slowest brain waves in humans. We tend to reach these states during daydreaming or deep sleep, and they are known to aid relaxation, creativity, and natural healing. Your brain will find it challenging to follow the sounds of the gong, so you will likely enter a deep meditative state at least once during the session.

Gong baths are highly rejuvenating for the body and bring about an overall sense of relaxation, which can reduce stress as well as help develop a better ability to cope with stress, help move emotional blockages from trauma, and even stimulate altered states of consciousness. They may also encourage greater overall stillness and contentment.

What should I expect during a gong bath?
Each person’s experience is, of course, unique but it’s possible for gong bathers to have a range of experiences from visions to epiphanies, to creative solutions, and even psychedelic-like journeys. As gong baths are a mode of meditation through which the mind can become quiet, you may find that inspiration, new ideas, or breakthroughs come to you. You might like to have a journal with you to write down these thoughts afterwards.

The harmonics of the sound healing retune any emotional disharmony within us. You may experience a range of emotions and reactions such as laughing, crying, feeling scared or angry, and anything in between. Many people feel a sense of bliss and peace after a gong bath.

On a physical level, you might experience vibration in the body due to the intense and powerful sound waves and vibrations produced during gong baths. Some people encounter this energetic clearing in the form of shaking or twitching in the body, usually through the hands and feet.

I recently attended a gong bath at House of Wisdom. I love attending gong baths as the perfect opportunity to de-stress, relax and reconnect that gut-brain axis which as we know is so important for gut health.