Sound vibration is central to the tenants of how sound healing works. Everything in the universe has a vibration, and many sound-healing practitioners believe that music or sounds that replicate other types of vibrations found in nature may have a positive effect on health and wellbeing. To better understand how sound healing works, let's have a look on a few musical terms that come up in sound-healing circles:

• Frequency – Frequency is the speed of vibration. Each musical note vibrates at a different frequency. If you move from left to right across a piano, the frequency increases as higher pitched notes vibrate at a higher frequency.

• Hertz (Hz) – Hertz is the measurement of frequency as beats per second. The frequency of middle C on the piano is 261.63 Hz. The frequency of a hummingbird’s wing beat is around 80 Hz. A crash cymbal can be composed of frequencies from 400 – 12,000 Hz.

• Resonance – Resonance is the length of time a sound is sustained at a certain frequency after the cause is removed. In music, for example, resonance would be the length of time of a sound after striking a cymbal, drum, or handpan. When you use the pedals of a piano, you add resonance. “Sustain” is also used synonymously with resonance.

A gong bath is a form of sound therapy where the gongs are played in a therapeutic way to bring about relaxation. The term gong bath means that you are bathed in sound waves, there is no water involved, or clothes removed.

 

The gong is one of the most effective instruments for sound healing, it is the sound of total resonance, incorporating all tones and harmonics of the sound spectrum: those within hearing range and those beyond human hearing.

All session is done lying down comfortably on the yoga mat. Gong Bath Meditations start with a brief explanation on the benefits of the gong, followed by a progressive muscle relaxation technique and a short breathing exercise, which aims to tune in to the moment, to let it go of the business of the week so that one can make the most of the gong bath experience.

 

All you have to do is lie comfortably and close your eyes and relax.

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As the sessions progresses different techniques are played, so there is no fixed rhythm which results in the brain not being able to follow and entrainment takes place. Entrainment is the changing of brainwave frequencies. Alpha brainwave state is achieved very quickly and is followed by the Theta brainwave state.

 

Alpha waves are defined as brainwave frequencies between 8 and 12 Hz. Daydreaming, imagination and associative thinking are all part of alpha brainwave activity. Alpha waves are present in states of relaxation.

 

Theta waves are defined as brainwave frequencies between 4 and 7 Hz. Theta waves occur during dreaming sleep - or REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement). Theta waves also occur during deep meditation. It can be considered the subconscious; they govern the part of our mind that lies between the conscious and the unconscious and retain memories and feelings. Also direct your beliefs and your behavior. Theta waves are always creative, characterised by feelings of inspiration and very spiritual.

 

Theta brainwave frequencies are most often where the gongs will take you. You will most likely  enter a dreamlike, deep meditative state. Some people might enter the Delta brainwave state (deep sleep frequency).

 

Theta brainwaves are important for healing. Scientists have discovered that Theta waves may:

1. Relieve stress and promote a lasting and substantial reduction in people prone to anxiety states.

2. Facilitate a deep physical relaxation and mental clarity

3. Increase verbal ability and also the performance IQ, verbal.

4. Better synchronise the two hemispheres of the brain.

5. Recall mental images live and spontaneous imaginative and creative thinking.

6. Reduce pain, promote euphoria and stimulate the release of endorphins.

EMOTIONAL DETOX

For some people it has an emotional detox effect. They might notice emotions that come to the surface, as the gong creates a space for the mind to release. This in turn allows for mental freedom and release of subconscious blocks. 

A gong bath works out emotional issues that we need to release in order to move forward in life. The purity of spirit cleanses the realm of the mind creating a space to receive insight and spiritual wisdom from your divine essence.

Some people have a profound experience of letting go as the gong opens up the portals of the nervous system where trauma is stored.  The gong deeply assists with healing drug abuse and any form of addiction.

ENERGETIC BALANCING

The gong works on the meridians of the body and realigns the energy centres (Chakras), ”re-tuning" the human being back to ideal frequencies via a universal physical and biological principle known as Sonic Entrainment. 

Chakras and Meridians are the highways of energy and flow. The gong bath allows this flow to increase, reorganising the emotional energy and feelings that are tied into the physical body; as result healing takes place.

Ultimately the gong creates a deeply relaxing and peaceful experience.

The ability to relax heal and connect to our divine wisdom, merging with our true purpose.

PHYSICAL STIMULATION

Gong Bath Meditation has been shown to have myriad additional physical benefits.These include: improving flexibility and coordination, increasing endorphin levels, boosting immune and glandular functioning, reducing tension and regulating stress-related hormones, and even improving digestion.

The vast range of rich overtones produced by the gong deeply bathes every cell of the body, muscles, bones, organs, nervous system.

Research* has shown that the sound can progressively destabilise the structure of cancer cells.Fabian Maman, a musician, acupuncturist and bio-energetician shared results of initial research which he has been conducting with the biologist, Helene Grimal (of the University of Gusseau), which illustrates the effect of sound on cancer cells. In a sequence of slides of cancer cells photographed while being subjected, at 60-second intervals, to a precise series of sound frequencies he showed that systematic destruction of the cancer cells occurred. Maman emphasised that healthy cells were not affected by such frequencies. (*The Influence of Sound on Human Cells by Fabien Maman - Series XII - Cancer Cells with Gong).