Lancaster, PA · Group & Private Sound
Sound meditation
& gong
Live bowls, chimes, and gongs, in a room of six or fewer.
Sound meditation is a guided rest. You lie back in a zero gravity chair while live instruments (crystal and metal bowls, chimes, and gongs) fill the room with tone and vibration. There's nothing to do and nothing to get right. Vanessa Simmons, a certified sound practitioner and the founder of Embodied Wisdom Institute, leads every session.
Group Sound Sessions
Three levels. Pick what fits today.
Every group session is capped at six people. Immerse and Resonate run 60 minutes, with a short check in, about 45 minutes of live sound, and a check out.
Gentle
Settle
Crystal bowls, chimes, and long, easy silences. The volume stays low and the pace stays slow, so your body can let go without having to work for it.
Best for: first timers, a short reset, or anyone sensitive to sound.
Full Spectrum
Immerse
Bowls, chimes, and other resonant instruments layer and shift through the session, with a gong section near the heart of it. You get a taste of the gong's depth, then return to softer sound to close.
Best for: a full sound bath, or your first experience with gong.
Deep Release
Resonate
The gongs carry the whole session: long, sustained tones, louder peaks, and vibration you feel moving through your entire body.
Best for: people with a few sound sessions behind them.
Sensitive to sound? Settle is our gentlest, quietest session and a good place to start. You're always welcome to ask Vanessa about volume before booking Immerse or Resonate.
What Happens in a Session
Arrive. Rest. Return.
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Check in
Get comfortable
Settle into a zero gravity chair with a blanket and eye mask while Vanessa walks you through what to expect.
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Live sound
Let the sound work
About 45 minutes of live sound (Settle is shorter). Rest, drift, or fall asleep. All of it is fine.
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Check out
Come back slowly
A gentle return, a few quiet minutes, and time for any questions before you head out.
Why People Come
Rest that asks nothing of you.
Sound meditation gives you complete permission to do nothing. There's no pose to hold, no breath to control, and no mind to quiet. The instruments do the work, and your body responds in its own way.
Everyone's experience is different. Sound meditation is a wellness practice and isn't a substitute for medical care.
What people often tell us they notice:
- Rest that feels deeper than a nap
- A quieter, less crowded mind
- Feeling more grounded in their body
- An easier time finding stillness, even when sitting meditation feels hard
- A calm that carries into the rest of the evening
Your Practitioner
Vanessa Simmons
Vanessa founded Embodied Wisdom Institute and leads every sound offering here. In 2025 she spent twelve days at the 9Ways Academia Gong Camp, studying with some of the most respected gong teachers working today, and that training shapes how she builds Immerse and Resonate.
- Certified Therapeutic Sound Practitioner, Soundwise School of Harmonic Therapy, Lancaster, PA
- Certified Vibrational Sound Therapy Practitioner, Vibrational Sound Association
- 9Ways Academia 12 Day Gong Camp (2025), with Mitch Nur, Mike Tamburo, Michael Bettine, and Thomas Orr Anderson
Private Sessions · $100
Private sound, when it opens up.
Vanessa offers private sessions as pop up appointments throughout the month. Each runs 60 minutes, with a check in, about 45 minutes of sound, and a check out. New openings are added to the schedule as they come up, so check back often or join the newsletter to hear first.
Vibrational Sound Therapy
Therapeutic grade singing bowls are placed on and around your body while you rest, fully clothed. You hear each tone and feel its vibration at the same time.
Private Sound Session
Bowls, gongs, and chimes, played just for you. Vanessa shapes the session around how you're feeling that day and the intensity you want.
First time clients complete a short intake form when booking.
Private Groups
Share a session with your people.
Book a private sound session for friends, family, or a small team, here at our space for up to six people, or at your location for larger groups.
Questions
Sound meditation FAQ
Is the gong loud?
It can get full and strong, especially in Resonate, which is gong only. Settle has no gong at all, and Immerse includes a gong section within a mix of softer instruments. If volume worries you, start with Settle.
I'm sensitive to sound. Which session should I choose?
Settle is the quietest option, with no gong and long stretches of silence. You're welcome to let Vanessa know when you arrive, or ask about volume before booking Immerse or Resonate.
What if I fall asleep?
Plenty of people do, and that's completely fine.
What should I wear or bring?
Wear comfortable clothes. We provide zero gravity chairs, blankets, and eye masks.
How is a private session different?
It's one on one, shaped around you, and you can choose Vibrational Sound Therapy, where bowls are placed on and around your body. Private sessions are $100 for 60 minutes.
Is the space accessible?
Our space is on the second floor and is reachable by stairs only. If stairs are a concern, please contact us before booking.