So what is gong relaxation? The gong (example below):
is an ancient instrument. The healing vibrations it produces have been used around the world. Listeners can benefit in many ways, including stilling the mind and strengthening the nervous system to effectively deal with daily, stressful situations. All participants need to do is relax comfortably on their mats and breath deeply to experience sound healing. Here's a link to a really informative website about gong therapy: Gong Sound Healing.
The sessions at It'z OK Yoga studio usually last for an hour and a half. The first few minutes are spent in focusing on our breathing and some gentle stretching that helps the nervous system to prepare for the sound vibration. Then participants relax stretched out on our mats in Shivasana (final relaxation pose) with eye pillows (often scented with lavendar) and absorb the sound of the gong for the next 45 minutes. I had no idea what the gong would sound like - actually I thought it would be very quiet. In reality, it can be quiet and then build to a fairly loud sound. Each sound vibration merges into the next. It's a really cool sound! At first, there is the tendency to fidget on your mat, and for the mind to flit from one thought to the next, but then things settle down and that's when the relaxation starts. At the end, we spend a few minutes enjoying our feelings of relaxation and well-being while sipping on some delicious Yogi Tea, homemade by Pat, while talking amongst ourselves.
Each time you experience a gonging session, you may have a different experience. The first time I went, I had no trouble at all letting go of the thoughts jumping here and there, and truly relaxing. Towards the end, I had a sensation of a warm blanket gently covering my body - but there was no blanket there. This last time, I felt a lot of involuntary muscle twitching and jerking going on. Some say this is a sign of your body letting go of some concern or worry. I have to agree, that this was exactly what was happening as I had gone through two medical tests in the two weeks before, which had turned out to be fine. My intention that I had set at the beginning of the gong session was gratitude for health, so, now I feel like I've totally let go of the worry and LIFE IS GOOD!!
If you are interested in going with me to a gong relaxation, let me know. The next one is Saturday, October 19th at 3 pm. (I probably won't make it to this one as it is Craft Fair Weekend). Then another on Sunday, October 27th at 3 pm.
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