The Healing Sound of a Gong

with gong master Mehtab in Hong Kong

I'm now paying it forward after all the gong training I've been through. First with Martha Collard, a student of gong master Don Conreaux and recently with another gong master and kundalini yoga teacher, Mehtab Benton for gong yoga and gong therapy.

Both of the training I've attended were at the Red Doors Studio, founded by Martha. This is where her collection of 19 gongs (and still growing) is housed. She established Red Doors in Aberdeen as a platform to share her passion with a larger audience.

I've been drawn to gongs ever since my first gong bath experience at the Summer Solstice Festival in France in 2013 by Nanakdev Singh.  He had on stage massive gongs (more than 40" in diameter). He was at the center and there were 5-6 students with him. As they played,  I felt that my tired, aching plus jet lag body was being healed by the overwhelming overtones of the gong.  I would go back each day of my stay at the festival to receive a 30-minute gong bath by his group.

The gong is one of the oldest transformational and therapeutic instruments used in rituals, ceremony, prayer and meditation since the Bronze Age.  The sound generated are multi-dimensional ripples that swell into varying degrees of sound waves. What happens in a gong bath is that the person receiving (in a lying position)  is 'bathed' in the swelling sound vibrations, shifting brainwave activity from beta (normal state) to theta (meditative)  where deep healing takes place. The process is called entrainment where the sound frequency is the agent that produces the shift.

And now, four years after my first experience, I find myself starting a collection of  Paiste gongs - first, symphonic (24" and 34") and then, Mars (32") and recently, Earth (40") - and continuously undergoing training. For my kundalini yoga classes, I normally bring one gong with me and play the gong at the end of the class or at times, when I do special 'rebirthing' classes where the gong is played to clear emotional blockages.  I also hold longer, 45-minute gong bath sessions at the Third Eye Wellness Center every Wednesday evening and for a very special group every other Wednesday afternoon. At times, I do participate in public events and give gong baths.

at an outdoor yoga class hosted by Life

at SouLove Center

at the opening of Yoga+Express Legazpi

at the Global Mala event

integrating gong during my Kundalini Yoga class 

After undergoing eight days hands-on training with Mehtab, I now integrate the sound of the gong in my kundalini yoga classes and not just play it at the end or during special featured classes. One of my students, Natasha Rodriguez, remarked that the gong helps her concentrate better and encourages her do the poses more.  Mind you, in kundalini yoga, we hold the poses at times for more than a minute or two.

Gong Therapist certification

I'm also a  'Gong Therapist' and conduct one-on-one sessions (by appointment though).   During the session, the gong combined with the practices of yoga (i.e. breathing techniques, hand gestures) are used to create a healing environment and transformational experience.

One of my first clients said that she experienced loose bowel movement after the one-hour session. Imbalances in the body may cause accumulation of toxins in certain parts of the body. The sound helps move high vibration energy through the body, loosening, dislodging and flushing out these accumulated toxins which may come out either as loose bowel, skin rashes, etc.

It may take some time for sound healing to become mainstream here in the Philippines. Nevertheless, I'm hopeful that people will turn to sound as a complementary healing modality.  Edgar Cayce (1877-1945), the father of holistic medicine said that "Sound is the medicine of the future."  Even Rudolf Steiner, German philosopher said that "pure tones will be used for healing before the end of this century."

Gong Bath at Soul Love Center

Gong bath at the opening of Soul Love (photo credit: Marisa Hardnadh

Ever since I got back from the Gong class in Hong Kong, I've been integrating gong baths in my Kundalini Yoga classes.

Today I gave a gong bath at the opening of the Soul Love Center in Alabang Hills.

The sound of the gong reaches the body on a cellular level, encouraging integrated healing of body, mind and spirit.

The benefits are tremendous. A gong bath relieves neck pain, headaches, menstrual cramps, muscle pain and improves joint flexibility and range of motion; Creates deep relaxation and clears the mind and reduces stress and anxiety; Stimulates the glandular system and improves its function and stimulates circulation; Organizes emotional energy; Aids in breaking addictive behaviour; Regenerates neurons and their interconnections and regenerates the nervous system; Clears the aura and opens and aligns the chakras; Clears the sub-concious mind from negative thought patterns; Strengthens and parasympathetic nervous system and helps repair the damage to the nervous system caused by stimulants (eg coffee) and stress.

I gave my 87-year old mother a gong bath right the day after her operation on February 5 and she was able to relax and sleep soundly after.  She said that it was her best sleep in a long time.

Kundalini Yoga master teacher Harijiwan explained "The Universe is powered by Sound. The gong is the basic creative sound. Out of the gong comes all music, all sounds, all words. The sound of the gong is the nucleus of the Word. Think of the human body as a divine instrument with strings. We are composed of 72 strings. The crown chakra - the thousand petal lotus - impact each of these strings with a thousand-fold vibration. So there are 72,000 vibratory impacts that send energy throughout our system and these vibrations shape us physically, emotionally and mentally. When the gong is played, the vibration of the string causes all thirty trillion cells of the body to resonate, to dance - forming patters that release blockages that have prevented the cosmic pulsation to flow freely through our being.  Within this creative cosmic flow, we find fulfillment, harmony and love."

The best way to enjoy a gong bath is to relax and surrender and let the gong work its healing magic. If you want to try it, I'll be at the Soul Love Center every Wednesday to teach a 90-minute Kundalini Yoga class from 10am to 11:30am. I will be giving 30-minute private gong baths by appointment. To book, email soulovecenter@gmail.com.

Conquer your Anger and Fear Kundalini Yoga at Yoga+ on February 20

Do you experience butterflies in your stomach, jitters, heebie-jeebies? Are you gritting your teeth? Are you feeling like you can't move forward and something's holding you back?

There are certain emotions that can hold one back. These are anger and fear.  Anger that is not expressed stays in the body and becomes ingrained in the psyche as neuroses which become habitual reaction patterns.  Fear, on the other hand, is an instinctual reaction to avoid harm and remain safe. The sensations are tangible - the butterfiles in the stomach, shakes, jitters. Fear manifests doubt, suspicion and ultimately, non-action.

Next Saturday, on February 20, I'll be conducting two feature Kundalini Yoga classes in Manila specifically to "Let Go of Inner Anger" at 10am and "Shift from Fear to Love" at 2pm. The kriyas and meditations will help channel inner anger and fear to break these habitual patterns and to consciously act instead of unconsciously react to the challenges of life.

I'll be giving a gong bath at the end of each class to release any remaining stagnant energy and blocks. The sound vibrations will repair the body at the cellular level and allow deep healing to take place.

If you want to conquer your anger and fear and welcome more loving relationships into your life, the classes will be held at Yoga+ Makati located at the 3/F Cambridge Center, Tordesillas St. Salcedo Village, Makati.  The rate is P799 per class or P1,499 for both classes. For info, contact (+632) 847-0697 or (+63-927) 558-1829.