If you are like me and are always looking for something new and exciting to do around the little towns of Trafford and Harrison City, I have an idea for you.
A 12 minute drive from Penn-Trafford high school will get you to Yoga Flow, a studio located in Irwin. At the end of every month, they offer a sound bath meditation led by Billy Book.
My first exposure to Yoga Flow and the sound bath meditation in particular was two months ago.
Allison Biondi, owner of Allison Biondi’s Gymnastics, told me with no expectation of me actually attending that she and her husband, my boss, would be attending that weekend.
I have experimented with lots of forms of meditation but never a sound bath, unless you count punk rock shows. Immediately, I texted my friend, Liliana and we paid the ten dollar fee.
Upon entering the studio, the smell of incense and a warm, calm feeling filled my body. The lights were low and we took off our shoes in the dark.
We laid our mats and blankets on the floor and watched the lights bounce off the ceiling until seven o’ clock on the dot.
Billy Book entered the studio with a small, dried bunch of sage and no socks or shoes. He walked into the small offshoot of the studio that held eighteen gongs and six glass bowls, all of varying sizes.
He started with a short breathwork activity that calmed the room down enough to begin the meditation.
At first, it is almost overwhelming to lay in the dark within a cacophony of sounds. Some of the gongs ring higher, deeper, louder, or softer than others. I peeked a couple of times to see Billy Book gingerly knocking the gongs with cotton covered mallets.
Once I reached the 10 minute mark, I started to become truly immersed in the noise. My eyes were shut but I could feel them rolling back into my head. I began to lose connection with my fingers and toes.
Soon enough, I was able to give up control of my thoughts and surrender to the gongs. Giving up your body and conscious mind to your unconscious mind can be disconcerting at first. It feels like your reasonable mind is slipping, but I promise, you won’t miss it.
An hour later, I come to to Billy gently urging everyone to wiggle their fingers and toes.
My body and brain feel cleansed, like they’re new again.
The gong sound bath class, led by Billy Book, is available the last Saturday of every month. Anyone interested can download the Yoga Flow app to register.