70-year-old sound healer promotes sound healing in Bhutan through gong therapy

Email

The journey of a passionate sound healer infusing the kingdom with sound healing through the love for gongs.

Frances Bak is the first tourist to set foot in the Land of the Thunder Dragon since Bhutan closed its border in March 2020. The 70-year-old American has completed her three-week quarantine and has begun touring the country. It is her second time visiting Bhutan with MyBhutan. But she is no ordinary tourist as her purpose in Bhutan is beyond mere sightseeing. 

Known as a sound healer, Frances aims to promote gong therapy to every corner of Bhutan. During her first trip to Bhutan in 2019, she visited 18 of the 20 districts in Bhutan, sharing her passion for sound healing. 

She first encountered the gong in Bali and has since toured numerous Asian countries with her gongs including Vietnam and Bhutan. 'To heal the planet, one vibration at a time' was her motto. On how did she ended up in Bhutan? Well, she literally just woke up one day and thought to herself, 'I'm taking my gong to Bhutan'. A country that she knows nothing about. 

But, it's also the country that transformed her life and helped her understand a very different way of living. 

Frances plans to stay in Bhutan for three months to continue promoting sound healing in the kingdom. She hopes that she'll be able to develop educational programmes in sound healing for the people. 

Screengrab from BBS

What is sound therapy?

Using sound as a form of healing dates back to ancient cultures as early as ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman times. Sound healing is seen as a therapeutic application of sound frequencies to the body or mind of a person, with the intention of bringing them into a state of harmony. Some of the popular instruments used in sound meditation are singing bowls and gongs.

What is gong sound therapy?

Gong meditation is a unique type of sound therapy that involves using the therapeutic sounds and vibrations of the gong to bring healing. The practice is also sometimes known as "gong bath" as participants are "bathed" in the meditation gong sound waves.

Some of the benefits associated with gong meditation include relaxation, emotional release, reduce symptoms of depression, improve overall mood and stress release. Like all sound therapy, gong meditation allows the brain to relax and process thoughts and emotions. As a result, one will feel calmer, happier and less anxious after the sound healing session.

Singing bowls meditation is more common in Bhutan where sound frequencies created by the singing bowls restore the flow of energy. 

Sound is increasingly being used as a tool to promote health and wellness throughout hospitals in the UK and U.S. In fact, research has shown that sound is now used in a variety of medical procedures, including breaking up kidney stones and detecting cancer cells. 

Will gong therapy be a thing in the future for Bhutan? Well, it's anybody's guess. But therapy or not, gongs have always been a part of the deeply spiritual Bhutanese culture.

To visit Bhutan

If you are wondering how Frances made her way to Bhutan all the way from America, below are the current criteria to enter Bhutan:

1. You have to undergo two-week quarantine (if you are fully vaccinated), or three-week quarantine (for the unvaccinated).
2. You need to book your trip through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
3. Pay a Sustainable Development Fee of USD65 per person per night for the 14 or 21 days.
4. Entry is only for those travelling to Bhutan by air
5. Minimum Daily Package Rate will be applicable for the entire tour duration after your quarantine.
6. Bear the cost for all COVID-19 tests.
7. You need to follow the COVID-19 protocol and TCB guidelines when you're in Bhutan.
8. You need to purchase travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage.
9. Produce a COVID-19 negative RT-PCR test certificate by a certified laboratory no more than 72 hours before embarking from the country of origin.



Related Posts

First tourist arrived in Bhutan after more than a year

After more than one and a half years of hiatus caused by the pandemic, Bhutan received its first tourist on Aug 9.

Aug 10, 2021 11:13

Bhutan is leading in the vaccination race

“Bhutan is now a beacon of hope for the region, at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has upended lives and devastated...

Jul 28, 2021 12:01

2023 Bhutan National Council Election

Historic Turnout for 2023 National Council Election & the Surprising unpredictability of the Bhutanese electorate

Apr 23, 2023 14:14

Drukair resumes charter to Timor Leste's capital Dili from 2023

Drukair resumes weekly charter flights to Timor Leste's capital Dili after pandemic

Feb 01, 2023 11:19

Progress on Bhutan's Sustainable Low Emission Urban Transport...

Bhutan now has 200 electric vehicles on the road, with another hundred to be dispatched very soon.

Nov 29, 2022 18:13

Translation of His Majesty's Address to the Nation at the 8th...

His Majesty delivered the Royal Address on the Opening Ceremony of the 8th Session of the Third Parliament, 4th...

Nov 05, 2022 15:23

Latest

News

2023 Bhutan National Council Election

Historic Turnout for 2023 National Council Election & the Surprising unpredictability of the Bhutanese electorate

Apr 23, 2023 14:14

Drukair resumes charter to Timor Leste's capital Dili from 2023

Drukair resumes weekly charter flights to Timor Leste's capital Dili after pandemic

Feb 01, 2023 11:19

Features

Bhutanese actor raise awareness on climate change by cycling through Bhutan

Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk launched The Messenger: Ride for Action, planting trees and talking to everybody.

Nov 25, 2022 15:18

Cordyceps Sinensis, the super mushrooms of Bhutan

Cordyceps Sinensis has many health benefits, which includes being an aphrodisiac.

Sep 25, 2022 16:50

Business

Bhutanese streaming platform Samuh is gaining international recognition

Founder and CEO of Samuh, Nyema Zam, recently won the Business Rice Awards 2022.

Dec 30, 2022 19:15

School in Lhuentse embrace entrepreneurship through Chip Production Unit

Bhutan endeavours to guide their youth towards innovation and creativity. The trickle-down effect has seen Tangmachu Central School’s...

Nov 29, 2022 18:04

Sports

Paro FC wins the 2022 BOB Bhutan Premier League

Paro FC wins third Premier League title in nail biting fashion in final match of the season.

Jan 09, 2023 15:45

More Bhutanese youths are engaged in football

Sitting at the 186th position in the FIFA rankings, Bhutan looks to improve its rankings in the years to come.

Aug 03, 2022 20:19

Travel

A tale of two airports in Bhutan

As the slow pace towards a pre-pandemic world begins, two of the country’s domestic airports are going through their own challenges and...

Nov 03, 2022 16:30

What you need to know about birdwatching in Bhutan

The best seasons and locations for birdwatching in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Sep 25, 2022 16:57

Lifestyle

Chillies, a spicy affair in Bhutan

The Bhutanese love it hot.

Jun 07, 2022 23:55

Bhutan is traditionally a matriarchal society

Women are the decision-makers at home, but something is keeping them from public life.

May 27, 2022 22:14

Subscribe to our newsletter

Never miss out on new happenings and news stories!

Download Daily Bhutan Mobile App

Connecting with us just got easier!