SOUND BATH OR SOUND JOURNEY OR SOUND CEREMONY
SOUND BATH
THIS WAS ME TEACHING A YOGA NIDRA CLASS IN GHANA WHILST VISITING MY DAUGHTER LAST YEAR. Wasn't intending to take over the class, but her teacher insisted I teach and it was fun.
At this yoga class, there was live music played by a wonderful Siaka Diarra on his hand made Cora. It was amazing.
In the past I was a dancer, and for contemporary dancers, live music, silence and pauses are crucial in creating a atmosphere which is pregnant with anticipation; provokes connectivity and memories as well as heart opening.
In a Sound Bath, one is taken away from the visual and the physical to become the instrument and the recipient of sound vibrations. When we connect with one another, we are entrained, we blend, synchronised to become one. In a Sound Bath you become blended with the sound and you are able to let go and relax, release and de stress. We become the Sound Bath.
In most if not all countries sound has been used to heal; to create collective community; to acknowledge the divine; to loose ourselves.
How to come to a Sound Bath
Come with a open mind
Come with a open heart
Come to not be judged
Come not to judge
There is a saying "first do no harm"
This is a space to be and allow the sounds to take you on a journey with you and your universe, your god, your essence.
Off course, bring your yoga mat. A list of things to bring will be sent to you.
What is a Sound Bath?
In a Sound Bath, you are invited to lie down although you can participate sitting in a chair.
Every practitioner does it differently, and maybe uses different instruments. But in my Sound Bath, I will firstly check in to see if every one is okay.
I will then take 10 mins guiding you into stillness, this will be with a Yoga Nidra (awake sleep) and then start playing the different instruments.
The instruments I use are crystal bowls, Himalayan Bowls (which are in effect small gongs), two gongs, Paiste classical gong and Nepalese 28" gong.
I will play for about 40 mins, I like to play around you and will sometimes play directly over you. The vibrations are very powerful. The bowls are tuned to 432 hz which are know to have a direct affect on your brain waves and cellular system, and connects you to the sound of the universe.
Every one will experience things differently, which also may include going into very deep sleep.
I will then, stop playing, and give you a couple of minutes of silence, before guiding you back to wakefullness. Reminding you to come up slowly and to hold that intention for as long as you can.
"I was so relaxed, I slept really well last night after the Sound Bath" Jackie
"It felt like I was in outer space" Grace
"I kept wanting to see what was happening"
"This was a totally immersive experience" Ally
"I was tired when I came in, now I feel energised" Dee
As a now Sound Bath practitioner, it initially took me a while to warm to the Sound Bath experience.
I had attended a few retreats where they had included sound baths and I found that they were too loud and jarring. But after working with a friend over lock down and going and taking the course myself, I realise that the energy brought to the Sound Bath, might be what is in the room, who is playing the gong in particular and that is being reflected outwards.
Always give a Sound Bath another go. You may have had a "argument before you came to the event" that is still being worked in the space and with the vibrations.
This is why I really take the time for us to shake off before we start. The time to drop down and let go. The time to feel safe and supported. This is why I hold the space for you, so that you can trust you will be safe.
Sound Bath, Sound Journey or Sound Ceremony are all the same things. They all are lead and guided by a trained practitioner, who is there to support you on your journey. Not get in the way, not judge you and help you feel safe. When we feel safe we are able to let go and trust.
THE DATES FOR THE COMING SOUND BATHS ARE ON MY WEBSITE WWW.ARLENEDUNKLEY-WOOD.CO.UK/BOOKONLINE
I AM LOOKING TO SHARE POSITIVE VIBRATIONS FOR A POSITIVE WORLD. WE ALL NEED IT.
BOOK NOW!
Book reference: "Sound Healing with Gongs" by Sheila Whittaker
Dates that might interest you
Friday 8 September
7.30-8.45pm
Quaker Meeting House, Bush Road, E11 3AU
And
Sunday 10 September @ Good Shepherd Studios
15a Davies Lane E11 3DR