MY first gong bath was a new experience for me.

I was told to bring a yoga mat, camping mat, or thick blanket to lie on, plus another blanket to cover myself with, along with a cushion, an eye mask or scarf to cover my eyes, and a bottle of water to drink afterwards.

As I don't own a yoga mat, I took a blanket instead. In hindsight, I should have took a thicker blanket as the hard wood floor was uncomfortable to lie on.

The space was beautifully decorated with fairy lights, candles, colourful mats, and the gongs themselves taking centre stage.

We took our places, and Mary invited us to get comfortable.

The room was dark enough I didn't need the eye mask, but the thick blanket to lie on is a definite need.

Mary did a great job at making us all relaxed and the hour went by really quickly.

Some of the gongs were almost so loud they were slightly disturbing, but it added to the overall surreal feeling.

After the gong bath, I had a great night sleep and I did feel less stressed. It's an experience I won't forget and in future, mindfulness will be part of my daily routine.