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A gong, a bowl and a handpan each create a distinct listening experience. Knowing which you prefer makes a relaxation session easier to settle into.

Three instruments, three very different rooms

A large gong fills a space with layered waves of sound that can feel enveloping or, for some people, a little overwhelming. A single singing bowl tends to offer one clear ringing tone that fades slowly. A handpan sits somewhere else again, with soft melodic notes that can resemble gentle music. If you notice that one of these appeals to you and another does not, that reaction is worth sharing rather than pushing through.

Telling Christine what you like to hear

Before a sound session at the Lane Cove clinic, Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, can talk through what kind of listening experience feels comfortable for you. Useful things to mention include:

• whether you prefer long sustained tones or shorter, softer sounds;
• how much quiet you would like between sounds;
• any sensitivity to loud or low-pitched noise;
• whether you would rather sit, recline or lie down.

You do not need a health reason for any of these preferences. Liking a gentle bowl more than a booming gong is simply information that helps shape the session.

Keeping the experience in proportion

Sound sessions here are offered as a relaxation and wellbeing experience. The choice of instrument changes how a session feels, but the presence of a particular gong or bowl is not a medical intervention and is not presented as one. If you are dealing with a health concern, that deserves its own conversation and, where appropriate, input from your GP.

Adjusting as you go

Comfort can be tuned during the session. You can ask for the volume to be lowered, for an instrument to be moved further away or for a break. There is no correct emotional reaction, and shifting position or opening your eyes is perfectly fine.

If you have a favourite sound already, mention it when you book at Lane Cove, and if you have no idea yet, a short conversation about the instruments at the start of your first visit is an easy way to find out.