How gong baths can help heal your body

Many of us are familiar with the benefits of meditation. Some moms have taken to meditating as it gives them time and space to focus on their intentions, ease their anxieties, and enjoy solitude.

But have you ever heard of sound meditation?

At ExpoMom 2021: Mindful Mom, Tet Fojas Bachman, mother of four and former Urban Ashram general manager, took the audience through an online gong bath. Playing the gongs, she said, brings the body to a state between theta and deep sleep, encouraging deep relaxation and promoting healing to our system. This gives our cells the chance to self-heal and regenerate. While it looked like someone was merely playing gongs on Facebook LIVE, it turned out to be a hit among everyone watching. (In case you missed it, you could still catch it on Mommy Mundo’s Facebook Videos.)

Why do gong baths generate such enthusiastic response? According to Psychology Today, “sound healing has ancient roots in cultures all over the world.” We naturally respond to sounds. Studies have shown that music plays a role in mental and physical health, while sound meditation has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression (Journal of Evidenced Based Integrative Medicine). Sound-based vibration treatment can decrease joint pain, improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and more.

The effectiveness lies in the gong or sound’s ability to bring us to a relaxed state in a matter of minutes. It’s something that newbies to meditation may find challenging to achieve. Listening to the gong makes it easy to relax deeply quickly, allowing the body and mind to focus on healing or the intention of the person meditating.

Several yoga practitioners, including Tet, could serve as your guide in gong bath meditation. Others include Rebel Yoga Manila and Rosan Cruz. Click on the links for upcoming sessions.