Gong Bath Meditation for Emotional Release
Free for the Emory Community
This special, free session for the Emory community is offered as a space for re-centering and emotional release following the recent events on campus. Through the deep, resonant tones of the gong, you will be guided into a state of relaxation where the body can soften, the mind can quiet, and emotions can move through your body without becoming trapped.
I was inspired to offer these sessions because of my own experience in a very different but equally unsettling situation. Years ago, while working at a university in Afghanistan, we experienced firefights near campus. The day it happened was deeply activating, but what surprised me was how long it took for my mind and body to truly process that I was not still in a firefight. Even after the danger had passed, I carried the tension, anxiety, and sense of vulnerability for days.
Later, I learned—through the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Body Keeps the Score), Peter Levine, Gabor Maté, and others—that our bodies can store unprocessed fear, stress, and loss of control. These stored emotions can affect our health and well-being long after the event itself. For me, it was the gong that helped most. The vibrations allowed my body to release what my mind couldn’t yet untangle, bringing me back to a sense of stability.
The recent events on campus, especially the lockdown, may have created similar feelings for some—sometimes the uncertainty and loss of control can feel even harder than the event itself. My hope is that these meditations can help you process and release what may still be living in the body, so it doesn’t have to stay there.
Sound vibrations work on a cellular level, helping to dissolve tension, calm the nervous system, and restore balance to both body and mind. This meditation is designed to help you feel more grounded, supported, and at ease—reconnecting you with your own inner steadiness.
You are welcome to come as you are. Mats and blankets will be provided, or you may bring your own for comfort. Simply choose the time that best supports your schedule, and give yourself this moment of release, rest, and renew.
Other dates include:
8/13
8/14
8/15
8/19
8/20