Navigating Extraneous Noise During a Group Gong Session:
“To snore or not to snore? That is the question.”
Picture this: you’re lying down in a dimly lit room, surrounded by soft blankets, eyes gently closed, waiting for the first resonant hum of the gong to wash over you. The space is calm, serene, and full of promise. The vibrations begin, and just as you’re slipping into a deep state of relaxation... a soft snore cuts through the air. You crack an eye open, half-smiling, half-wondering whether you should ignore it or send a playful nudge to the person next to you.
In terms of snoring at a group sound session, it’s generally best to avoid it to maintain a peaceful atmosphere for everyone…
There you go, that’s the simple answer to the question in the title!!
But hang on a minute…this topic is far from simple, and that statement above just doesn’t wash, because in reality, almost every group gong session will have at least a few individuals snoring at some point. Here’s the thing: when we humans relax, snoring is a common byproduct of that! This post isn’t aiming to dive into the reasons why people snore—it’s simply looking at the fact that it’s a common side effect of lying down and relaxing. So how do we best handle that in group sessions?
I was curious to see what other professional gong players thought about it. So, I brought this question up during one of our dinners at a training session. To my surprise, there were a variety of responses around the table.
Some practitioners tell participants at the beginning that if they hear snoring, they will walk around the room and give the snoring person a gentle shake to wake them up. Others encourage people to wake up the person snoring if they’re lying next to them. Some practitioners, especially those who offer their services as meditations, advise participants to go with the flow and incorporate the sounds of snoring into their experience.
Sadly, I even heard one story where a lady was kicked a little too hard in the back, causing her to feel deeply unsafe in the space. I found that story particularly horrifying!
Personally, I do not feel comfortable creating a space where people may be woken up or touched, potentially without consent. I also feel that if people have fallen asleep, it’s what they deeply need in that moment. For me, a group gong session should be a safe space for everybody—and that includes those who have started snoring and those who are lying awake.
That’s why, over the past six months, I’ve started addressing this subject right at the beginning of the group gong session
Our bodies are intuitive, and when someone drifts off during a group gong session, it’s a signal that the vibrations are reaching the deep places where they’re needed. After all, the human ear only perceives about 20% of the vibrations created by a large gong. The rest is felt on a much deeper, more subtle level within the body.
However, with a group setting comes the reality of occasional extraneous noise. Light breathing, and sometimes snoring, can be disruptive to those around the person who has fallen asleep.
While the gongs are powerful enough to continue their work regardless of this external sound, it can sometimes pull others out of their own experience.
If you ever find yourself in this situation—where someone’s light snores are pulling you away from your own journey—one simple solution is to change your position. Instead of lying down, try sitting up. By coming to a seated position and observing me playing the gongs, you can still receive the full benefits of the vibrations without feeling distracted or cross about the extra noise - how many of us have sat through a group session feeling irritated about another person and then berating ourselves because we don’t feel our internal process is particularly Zen 🙈.
However watching the instruments being played can create a different, yet equally valuable, experience of the sound.
Some practitioners market their sessions as "gong meditations." While meditation may be part of the experience for some people, I like to offer a more pragmatic approach to group sound sessions. It’s important to understand that a journey of sound can bring up a wide variety of responses. For some, it may lead to deep relaxation or even sleep. Others may find themselves processing internal work, and some might simply enjoy the soothing nature of the sounds. I don't promise a meditative experience because I belive everyone's journey with sound is unique.
An interesting aspect worth highlighting is how sound vibrations can influence the body on a cellular level, which could explain why some people drift off during a journey. Research shows that sound can help shift brainwaves from an active, alert state to deeper, more restful states. When someone falls asleep during a session, they may be entering a theta or delta brainwave state—both of which are linked to deep relaxation and healing. It’s a reminder that the gongs are doing much more than just creating sound; they’re facilitating physiological changes.
Another topic that fits well into this discussion is the idea of "perfect silence" in sound therapy. Many people come to a sound journey expecting absolute silence apart from the instruments themselves, but it’s important to acknowledge that life isn’t silent, and that’s okay. Extraneous sounds, like someone breathing, or even distant traffic outside the space, are part of the environment. Rather than seeing these noises as disruptions, it’s possible to view them as an extension of the experience—a practice in allowing life’s unpredictable elements to simply exist without judgment.
However, if you’ve been to a number of group sound journeys and truly feel that you cannot tolerate any extraneous noise, then it may be best to opt for a private sound session. I offer private sessions on Thursdays and Fridays in Bridgetown, Totnes, which can provide a quieter, more tailored environment for those seeking deeper stillness.
Final Notes on Snoring
By normalizing these external sounds and offering strategies like sitting up to watch, we create an inclusive space where participants don’t feel pressured to achieve a specific type of experience. It’s about letting go of expectations and being present with what arises during the journey.
Lastly, while many of us snore, often without realizing it, if you know that you are a particularly loud snorer and are thinking of attending a group gong journey, it might be worth having a little chat with the practitioner ahead of the session. Ask if there are any extra props or adjustments they could suggest to reduce the snoring by altering your position—such as coming to a seated position.
See you in the sound space soon 🙏
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