At Exeter Friends’ meetinghouse in Douglassville last month, a group gathered for a special event. Instead of their usual Meeting for Worship, the wider community was invited to immerse themselves in sounds coming from instruments like a gong, singing bowl, shruti box, ocean drum, chimes, and more, played by sound facilitator, Jen Ryan, founder of Jen Who Plays the Gong.
Attendees of “Seasonal Gong and Sound Immersion with Exeter Meeting” were encouraged to close their eyes and sit quietly for the one-hour experience. All they had to do was listen and be open to whatever would happen during the session.
“It’s about listening, experiencing, and feeling the sound without relying on visual input,” Ryan said. “This helps with the stresses of modern life.”
Chance to get away
Sound immersion, also known as a “sound bath,” provides an opportunity to escape from being glued to your phone, stuck in traffic, or the never-ending to-do list as you try to balance work and family life.
“It offers easy stress relief, inner quiet, and peace, and takes you away from the chaos,” she said.
You may also experience deep rest and relaxation, mental clarity, emotional release, and reduced anxiety during and after the session.
“It helps to center and ground you, allowing you to let go and immerse yourself in the sound experience,” Ryan said.
Surprising and deep
Stan Dalton, from Exeter Township, attended Ryan’s event at the meetinghouse and found the experience to be unlike other sound immersion experiences he had in the past.
“My experience with Jen’s session 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 fully relax and let the richness of the tones and harmonics flow freely. It was like receiving a gentle inward massage — it was truly transformative.”
By bringing people together for a sound session, Ryan has recognized the importance of building a community to improve well-being, which she sees as crucial for humanity.
“It’s a space where everybody chooses to be there for 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 aware and mindful of a more sustainable world.
“I want to awaken awareness to remind people that we should live joyfully from the heart,” she said.
Holistic journey
Before Ryan’s professional focus turned to a holistic journey to wellness, she worked as a registered nurse for six years. Eventually, she realized she wanted to care for people’s wellness in a way that matched her values. She discovered sound immersion and saw it as a powerful approach.
“The powerful effect of sound itself is what inspired me to share it with others,” she said. “During a sound immersion, I see it as though everyone there is under my care and I’m creating a space for safety and comfort so they can achieve deep 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 like birthday parties, weddings, and showers. She recently hosted 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 interested in the idea because he’s been focusing more on achieving a work/life balance lately.
“It’s easy to become overwhelmed in life,” Alff said. “I think it’s important to relax and refocus ourselves in a stressful world and Jen’s sound bath meditation is the perfect way to concentrate and recharge. It’s an added bonus when you combine that experience with delicious, nourishing food.”
Employee wellness
She’ll be providing 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 part of ‘Community Acupuncture & Sound Immersion’ at the Phoenixville Recreation Center, also in Chester County.
“The combined methods allow for a deeper renewal,” Ryan said. “This enables enhanced relaxation to recover from stress and move through life a little lighter.”
Upcoming public sound immersion events
• Monday, April 22: Community Acupuncture & Sound Immersion at Phoenixville Recreation Center in Phoenixville, 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 18: Sips & Sound at Evansburg Vineyards, Collegeville, 11 a.m.
• Sunday, May 19: Sound Bath & Brunch at Vesta Kitchen, North Coventry, 11 a.m.
Pre-registration is required for all events. To book a space and for more information, contact www.jenwhoplaysthegong.com/events
