Noise Everywhere

It was the day before my wedding and I was feeling overstressed. There were too many people, too much windy chatter, too many questions, too many demands, too much noise and forced laughter.

I needed a place to get away from the commotion.

I found it by accident when, fed up, I dove into the pool at the Milwaukee Holiday Inn. Silence … peace. Nestled in the deep end of the pool I took solace that H2o had finally muzzled everyone.

The ongoing ear-full, the continual push-notification of content rattling my monkey-mind, the pseudo music everywhere (think of elevators and talking telephones) robs me of quiet.

Noise and compulsive talking has become such a constant presence in our world that people actually feel unnatural in silence.

Isn’t it strange that a quiet outdoor setting has become for many, a scary venue?

There are exceptions to the American experience of constant chatter. Think of the “moment of silence” during a public event as a memorial gesture. Have you noticed though, that it’s a forced moment of 20-seconds?

Meditation groups remain quiet when meeting, but their intent is to be quiet.

Silence in Yoga

Silence … it doesn’t seem like such a tall countercultural order, but it is. Think of the last time you were in a group of people and you were silent together. It happens rarely, and that is why I have found silence to be a treat in my yoga practice and one of its overlooked benefits.

In my class there is only one voice, that of the teacher. Everyone else is close-mouthed. In fact, we are asked to be present and to breathe through our nose but not chatter.

Certainly, social talk is welcome before and after class, and that’s good. But during class, everyone is relieved from the burden of speaking, of appearing happy or witty or social. Everyone is invited to give-in to the faint lull of not talking … tongues fired by Red Bull are put on the DL.

And it’s even more pleasant when my instructors are silent during a two-minute savasana in the middle of class and during a repeat savasana at the end of class. It’s a welcome rest on an aphonic beach.

Can you picture us, a room with 25 people lying on their backs, eyes open, completely spent physically, sweating and simply enjoying the floor – that’s right – enjoying the floor … and the silence?

It may be the most enjoyable 120-seconds in a busy day because the tide of quietness washes away the noisy cacophony of daily commerce. Those two minutes are anything but – business as usual – they are the sweet inarticulate hush of spiritual space defined by simplicity and silence.

Silence is Important

Since moving to Hawaii, I’ve learned to enjoy the depths as a free-diver. Both free-diving and yoga require a closed mouth, both require stillness and concentration, both require training and both bring relief from a windy and vociferous cacophony that is often jibberish.

Silence in my practice is important, even if it’s brief. I see it as the pregnant pause, for in the brief quiet, I come to new understandings and I lean into it just as when swimming I stretch down to muted fathoms.

I’ve noticed that the yoga world can be noisy and that the degree of silence in any yoga practice depends entirely on one’s choice from the wide variety of American yoga class offerings. Some might like it loud and that’s a viable choice, but it’s not for me.

I look forward to savasana, and sometimes I remember the deep end in that Holiday Inn pool. Of course, when I get up and get involved in the world’s commerce, talk is necessary, but to me it still seems over-employed; while silence, talking’s soft-pedaled sister, opens up the music to a pleasant calm.

To hear it, dive into the silence and call up a quiet moment. Your peace is quietly waiting for you.

Conclusion

Stillness is an important component of a successful yoga practice. In the middle of the chaos of everyday life, it provides an opportunity to achieve inner serenity and connect with yourself. Silence may be a transforming experience that helps the mind and body, whether it is experienced personally or through a Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh in the picturesque surroundings of Rishikesh.