Gong bath

“Have you ever been washed inside and out with sound? A relaxing gong bath will achieve just this. Do try it if you get the opportunity. It is fantastic, a flowing out of your body of all the stresses of the daily rat race as it is today.
Take something comfy to lie on (a good Yoga mat should suffice) and a rug as a cover, as the gong bath may last for over an hour and, as you totally relax, a chill can set in. The first time I was not fully prepared which spoilt the final 15 minutes or so as I was beginning to feel quite cold.
The room or studio is darkened with just a few candles. If possible, lie in Savasana. The important thing is to be comfortable, breathing deeply for the first few breaths, right down to the abdomen, then breathing normally as you start to relax.
When everyone is quiet, the session starts with a soft gong or sometimes the sound of gentle flute music. This helps you to relax into the bath itself which allows all the stresses and worries to flow out of the body, to be replaced by feelings of deep peace and quietness.
Sometimes your mind will wander off. You can imagine anything you like - walking along by the seashore, lying beside running water, being with someone you love or in a place that you hold dear to your heart. Sometimes thoughts will come, totally unexpectedly, as the sound of the gong gets louder.
The gong beats crescendo in volume, then quieten down. The flute interweaves with the gong, giving a wonderful floaty feeling...”

Written by Jean King, a British Wheel of Yoga student teacher, the article continues to describe a gong bath and its beneficial effects.