Sound immersion provides an antidote for the demands of modern living

by courtney h. diener-stokes

Inside Exeter Friends’ meetinghouse in Douglassville last month, many gathered for a different purpose other than Meeting for Worship. On a Saturday evening, the wider community was invited there for an opportunity to be immersed in sounds coming from a gong, singing bowl, shruti box, ocean drum, chimes and more — played by sound facilitator, Jen Ryan, founder of Jen Who Plays the Gong.

Jen Ryan, founder of Jen Who Plays The Gong, with a variety of instruments she uses in her sound immersion sessions at Beekeeper's Cafe in Pottstown. (Jen Who Plays the Gong / For MediaNews Group) — Jen Ryan, founder of Jen Who Plays The Gong, with a variety of instruments she uses in her sound immersion sessions at Beekeeper’s Cafe in Pottstown. (Jen Who Plays the Gong / For MediaNews Group)

Attendees of “Seasonal Gong and Sound Immersion with Exeter Meeting” were encouraged to close their eyes and sit in stillness for the one-hour experience. All they had to do in that place and time was simply listen and be open to whatever would unfold for them in the session.

“It’s listening and experiencing and feeling the sound and not taking in any visual stimuli,” Ryan said. “This is the antidote for the demands of modern living.”

Opportunity to escape

One of Jen Ryan's gongs, which is a central component of her sound immersion events. (Juliana Laury / For MediaNews Group) — One of Jen Ryan’s gongs, which is a central component of her sound immersion events. (Juliana Laury / For MediaNews Group)

Sound immersion, also known as a “sound bath” offers an opportunity to escape from your phone, being stuck in traffic or the to-do list nagging at you all day as you strive to balance work and family life.

“It offers effortless stress relief, inner quiet and peace, and removes you from the chaos,” she said.

Some other things you may feel during and after the experience are deep rest and relaxation, mental clarity, emotional release and lessened anxiety.

“It helps to center and ground and it’s allowing you to release into the sound journey,” Ryan said.

An outdoor sound immersion event by Jen Who Plays the Gong at Evansburg Vineyards in Collegeville. (Evansburg Vineyards / For MediaNew Groups)

Surprising and profound

Stan Dalton, Exeter Township, attended Ryan’s event at the meetinghouse and found the experience to be different from other sound immersion experiences he’d had in the past.

“My experience with Jen’s ministration was more surprising and profound as I sat meditatively on the benches,” Dalton said. “I could feel the full resonance throughout my body and after a while, could relax into it fully and allow the richness of the tones and harmonics to flow freely. It was like receiving a gentle inward massage — it was truly transformative.”

Through bringing people together to experience a sound session, Ryan has realized the importance of curating a community to optimize well-being, which she sees as being vital to humanity.

A variety of instruments used for sound immersion are set up in preparation for an event in the wine production room at Evansburg Vineyards in Collegeville. (Jen Who Plays the Gong / For MediaNews Group)

“It’s a space where everybody is choosing to be there to experience deep rest and relaxation,” Ryan said. “It’s powerful how it can enhance the benefit of everybody and it gives you a glimmer of hope.”

It’s about being conscious and aware of a more sustainable world.

“My deepest intentions are stoking consciousness to remember that we are meant to live joyfully from the heart,” she said.

Holistic journey

Prior to Ryan’s professional focus centering on a holistic journey to wellness, she worked as a registered nurse for six years. Over time, she realized she wanted to care for people’s wellness in a way that was more aligned with her values. She experienced sound immersion and saw it as a powerful modality.

“The profound impact of sound itself is what called me to share it with other people,” she said. “At a sound immersion, I view it as though everyone who is there is under my care and I’m holding space for safety and comfort so they can get to the depths of relaxation to balance the nervous system.”

In addition to community group sessions, Ryan offers private one-on-one sessions, corporate employee wellness, special events, such as retreats, and special occasions such as birthday parties, weddings and showers. She recently did a “Sunday Brunch & Sound Bath” at Vesta Kitchen in North Coventry, a retail and event space that offers catering. Vesta’s owner, John Alff, was drawn to the idea given he’s been concentrating more on having a work/life balance as of late.

“It’s easy to become overwhelmed in life,” Alff said. “I think it’s important to relax and recenter ourselves in a stressful world and Jen’s sound bath meditation is the perfect way to focus and recharge. It’s an added bonus when you combine that experience with delicious, nourishing food.”

Employee wellness

She’ll be offering an employee wellness session this weekend at Kimberton Waldorf School, a private, co-educational college preparatory school in Chester County, and on Monday, April 22, she’ll be a part of ‘Community Acupuncture & Sound Immersion’ being held at the Phoenixville Recreation Center, also in Chester County.

“The combined modalities allow for a deeper restoration,” Ryan said. “This allows for an enhanced relaxation to rebound from stress to walk the path of life a little lighter.”