Healing Through Sound: The Science of Gong Therapy
Sound therapy is a form of therapy that uses sound to encourage relaxation within the mind and body. The benefits of sound therapy have been explored in traditional and modern medicine as a way to confront mental health struggles and reduce stress.
Gong Therapy is an increasingly popular form of sound therapy. Gongs have been celebrated as spiritual objects for over 4,000 years. They were designed to cleanse the mind and spirit with therapeutic sound vibrations. To experience Gong Therapy, participants often lie down on the floor with blankets and listen to the sound of gongs being played. This form of therapy is often referred to as a ‘sound massage’ because it has similar healing benefits to a massage. The experience allows you to immerse yourself entirely in the present moment, giving you space and time to breathe after a stressful day at work or in your personal life.
Gong Therapy has become very popular as a form of therapy, not just because of how relaxing the experience is, but because there are real scientific benefits too! Submerge your mind and body in sounds has been proven to have genuine healing qualities.
Read on to discover more about the science behind Gong Therapy!
Sound Waves and Vibrations
Sound waves transmitted by gongs travel through the body to help balance energy and encourage emotional and spiritual healing. It has been proven that when travelling through the air, sound waves can affect physical matter. As we listen to sounds, our cells, tissues and organs can be influenced by the vibrations we hear, which in turn can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the "rest and digest" function in our bodies. When this system is activated, our stress is reduced, our heart rate is lowered, and our bodies shift into a calm and relaxed state. Gong Therapy has been proven to help people with anxiety and stress because bringing them into a tranquil state of being has lasting effects on the body and brain.
Brainwave Entrainment and the Gong's Frequencies
Have you heard of Brainwave Entrainment? A key scientific theory behind the benefits of Gong Therapy! Our brains function at different frequencies, known as brainwave states, which can impact our mental states. Sound frequencies produced by the gong can interact with the brain's mental state and create 'theta waves', which relate to deep relaxation, healing and creativity. The gong's frequencies can synchronise brainwaves, which really can change your mindset and make you feel much less frazzled after a day of stress! When our brains experience these sounds our brainwaves may start to attune to the rhythm of the sound, moving us from an alert state of heightened anxiety of stress (known as beta waves) to a meditative state (theta waves)
Stress Reduction and Emotional Release
Our physical health is intrinsically linked with our mental health. It is essential to take care of the mind and find methods to reduce stress and anxiety. Gong Therapy has been proven to help reduce cortisol levels by inducing a state of deep relaxation, which then helps to decrease the physical and mental effects of chronic stress symptoms such as high blood pressure, muscle tension, and emotional suffering. It can also assist in releasing emotional blockages - time spent in a relaxed state can help us to process our emotions and release them! By allowing our mind and body to relax we have time just to be with ourselves, listen to our minds, and be free of life's pressures for an hour or so. Many people leave their session feeling much lighter, having released old traumas or stresses, often finding themselves with increased clarity and a much less jumbled mind! If you're someone who finds it hard to meditate in silence, gong therapy can offer an alternative way to meditate by using sound.
Balancing the Chakras
The chakras are various focal points used in many meditation practices. They are known as the body's energy centres, responsible for the flow of vital energy through the body. When these chakras become blocked it can lead to emotional or physical problems. Each chakra is linked with a different frequency, and the gong's sound vibrations can help balance these energy centres. Low frequencies of sound may link to the root chakra, helping to ground and stabilise the mind and body, whilst high frequencies of sound could align with the crown chakra which supports clarity and spirituality. By utilising the Gong's vast array of frequencies, our energy centres can become more balanced!
Improving Sleep and Restorative Healing
The restorative effects of Gong Therapy can last long after the therapy itself! It can greatly improve sleep patterns and create a much more restful sleep the night after, and maybe even beyond that. The ocean of sound created by a gong relaxes the brain profoundly, preparing for a more peaceful sleep much less likely to be disturbed by anxiety and stress. Gong Therapy can be specifically beneficial for people suffering from PTSD or insomnia because of its soothing influence on the brain. It can allow the heart to rest, which in turn allows for muscle relaxation and a much better night's sleep. You can practice it at home or in a taught class; even carving some time at the end of the day to listen to gong sounds within a peaceful setting can improve your well-being immeasurably! Whether you are practising on your own or with others, it is an incredible method to enhance your sleep, in turn improving your energy, focus, creativity, and awareness.
Gong Therapy can be experienced in a variety of settings such as yoga studio, or private sessions with trained Gong practitioners. To fully immerse yourself in the experience, it is recommended you wear comfortable clothing, lie down in a comfortable position, focus on your breath and the sounds of the vibrations, and allow yourself to feel the emotions that become present within the session. Approach your session with an open mind and a willingness to surrender to the sounds and vibrations the gong makes.
Sign up for our Gong Master Course to learn how to play various gongs and facilitate Gong meditations, Sound baths, and Gong ceremonies. Find out more on our website: https://www.northernlightyoga.no/
