After our first gong bath experience, I had the feeling I was missing something. Something I might have been open to if I hadn’t been late and in a bad mood when we arrived. There was another gong bath coming up, at a different location and a time that worked better for us, so we gave it another shot.

We got there on time, and I’d brought a pillow to prevent messing up my neck. Last time I lay flat on my back with no neck support. In addition to feeling disappointed in the experience, I was also pretty sore.

Also, as we were walking in, I asked the Chaplain if we could sit separately. I knew if we were next to one another that, like last time, I’d be wondering about his experience and listening to his breathing pattern and trying to interpret it. These are silly, anxious behaviors that I can’t help.

I doubled up the yoga mats underneath me for comfort (earning an “Atta Girl” from one of the Gong Brothers), and settled in.

And it “worked.” Without the anxiety of not knowing what to expect, the worry about the Chaplain’s experience, and the stress of bringing in negative emotions and arriving late, I dropped in quickly and immersed in the experience. It was a sensation of simultaneously being firmly grounded on the floor and floating above it.

The skull-scraping sensation I had last time didn’t happen, but I left feeling really clear, and the next morning, had an amazing meditation session. Because we were in a different space, I was closer to the gongs, and at certain points, there were gongs being played at both my head and my feet, (in the other space, my head was against the wall, so I was never surrounded by the gongs). While last time, I only felt the vibrations in my feet and head, this time, I could feel them rolling through my whole body.

The Chaplain reported reduced back pain after the experience. He laid on his side with his back toward the gongs. We theorized the vibrations from the gongs loosened the muscle tension that was causing the back pain. He managed to fall asleep. There were several people audibly snoring during the gong bath.

The two guys who run the gong bath have a super chill vibe, and both times their energy really lent positively to the experience, but especially the second time when I went in feeling more open to the experience.

Afterward, I understood the anticipation on the faces of the other participants at the beginning. I left feeling relaxed and like something wonderful had happened. We were already talking about doing it again on the way home.

We went for an evening walk when we got home that was lovely and relaxed. In the cold, clear air, I had a chance to bask in the afterglow from the gongs.

I definitely love the clarity of mind I had after both my experiences, and even better, this time I got to enjoy it while it was happening to me.

What IS it about the gong bath? What makes it wonderful and a little magical? I’m not sure. But if you are curious, find one and go to it. Maybe it will “work” for you. Or, maybe it’ll just be an interesting experience to put in your pocket.

I “get” why people go to the gong bath. I look forward to going again.