The gift of the gong

Earlier this month, the staff at CSASS decided to show our volunteers how much we value the work they do by treating them to an evening of wellbeing and meditation.

We invited Karen from Wellbeing Wave to guide us through a Gong Sound Meditation. The gong, as a meditation tool, has been around for thousands of years. The sound-waves can interrupt the brainwave patterns of your busy, stressed mind to allow access to the more semi-conscious dream-like brainwave states similar to that just before sleep. Vibrations from the gong can ripple through the body and release emotional blockages and stress.

One of our Helpline volunteers, Alli, got in touch with us afterwards to let us know what she thought of the experience and what she got from it…

“Thank you so very much for the Christmas gift of Gong Sound Bath/Meditation. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful this evening was for me. I have had body and joint pain for months and since the meditation it has completely gone. Just hoping I didn’t snore!

“I got up earlier than normal and feel absolutely great today. Plus, I’ve been more productive than normal.”

If you would like more information, or you are interested in gong meditation, visit Karen’s website at www.wellbeingwave.com.

Our team’s top tips
Our awesome team see first hand how self-care can help anyone who is struggling with day to day life. Here are their top tips:

• Do what’s right for your body and mind, don’t push yourself to do everything!
• Choose a positive mantra that you say to yourself every day. Mine is “I am good enough” and I’ve learnt to say it whenever I’m really low.
• Immerse yourself in nature, it is so therapeutic and calming
• Remember to take a break to breathe slowly and deeply – breathe in for 7 beats and out for 7 beats, repeat until you feel calm
• Keep a notepad handy. Write in it regularly even if you don’t feel like it at the time. It’s a great way to offload your mind and express how you’re feeling.
• Sleep, sleep, sleep! If anxious thoughts and ‘to do’ lists whirling around your head make this difficult, keep your notepad by your bedside. Get your thoughts down on paper to clear your mind.