Meet Our Team: Co-Founder & Gong Master Lou

Introducing our co-founder and Gong Master, Lou, he makes up the GONG of ASTRO.GONG.YOGA by bringing sound healing that is full of deep and long lasting relaxing effects to rejuvenate and rebalance the body, mind and spirit!  Lou has led numerous sound healing workshops and events around the world and has a natural gift of channeling the sacred sounds of the gong.  Here at AGY he guides weekly Gong Immersions on our rooftop, as well as Gong Trainings that you can take advantage of.

AGY:  How did ASTRO.GONG.YOGA come to be?

Lou:  I met Emily at i-SKY Kundalini Yoga training school. It transpired that both of our dreams were to share our individual skill sets, Emily’s being yoga, photography and branding and mine being Gong, construction and community.  Along with Emily’s huge interest in Astrology and so many of the Gongs being tuned to the planets; ASTRO.GONG.YOGA seemed to be the natural thing to do.

AGY:  What are you intentions for AGY’s future?

Lou:  To expand the number and variety of classes and workshops as well as open a retreat center in Joshua tree.

AGY:  Where are you from?

Lou:  I’m from a little sleepy village called Wadhurst in East Sussex England. It is located between London and Brighton.

AGY:  What’s it been like opening AGY during the pandemic?

Lou:  Obviously really hard, there have been so many challenges along the way, then the pandemic hit!  It has just made us more determined to succeed and definitely more versatile, imaginative, inventive and prepared to try anything new no matter how strange and unusual it might have seemed before Covid.

AGY:  How did you get into the Gong and sound healing?

Lou:  My then wife started going to a Kundalini yoga class, her teacher’s husband, Mark Swan, was a Gong master and giving a Gong bath the following night.  I was reluctant and dubious, all ego based, anyway my wife said all I had to do was lie down and nap for an hour.  We went, I saw so many colors and images, heard singing and cannons. It was amazing and the following week I started yoga and that was shortly followed with Gong training.  I then accompanied Mark on virtually all his Gong baths and Gong trainings all over Europe. 

AGY:  Why are you passionate about bringing Gong to the masses?

Lou:  I feel it’s such an important healing tool and so beneficial to us all in so many ways.  Also I feel it has remained fairly inaccessible to so many people for so long, now is the time for us to make the Gong available to everyone, even if only through its sound vibration and healing.

AGY:  What is your favorite inspirational quote?

Lou:  “There are no boundaries” because there aren’t, we can do anything we set our minds to, we just have to believe and trust in the Universe.

AGY:  What is your favorite mantra?

Lou:  Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung, meaning “Sun, Moon, Earth, Infinity, I am Thee”.

AGY:  Favorite asana and why?

Lou:  Sufi Grinds because I find them very meditative and I can really go deep inside my body and feel all that’s going on.

AGY:  What brings you most joy and why?

Lou:  I get satisfaction from playing sound baths as I enjoy watching how peoples demeanors have change from the time they arrive to the time that they leave.  I love teaching the Gong as it gives others so much joy that will just carry on expanding.

AGY:  What is your spirit animal and why?

Lou: A Stag and a Doe. I believe they represent the Yin and Yang in me. 

To book a Gong Immersion head to the Timetable & Pricing page or give us a call to schedule an appointment for a Gong Training.