Benefits of Silent Meditation

If you’ve taken yoga classes in Tampa, chances are you’ve glimpsed one of yoga’s main benefits: a sense of inner calm and quiet. By the end of savasana, whatever busy thoughts you carried with you onto your yoga mat have softened, and perhaps dissolved completely. It is often through the physical practice of yoga postures that many people begin to discover the deeper benefits of meditation. 

The truth is, modern life is noisy.

You are constantly bombarded with stimuli: the news, social media, music, advertisements telling you how your life will be better with the latest shiny new object. 

Your inner landscape is probably quite noisy, too: there is a constant inner monologue filled with to-do lists, reactions, opinions, dreams, and desires. There’s a lot going on in there! If you want inner calm, it is essential to practice silence (yes, it is a practice).

The old adage is true: silence is golden — and silence is becoming rarer and more precious in our modern lives. That’s why it is more crucial than ever to quiet down from all the noise, both inner and outer. However, it’s not easy, especially with all of the delicious temptations right at your fingertips. 

It is so helpful, for beginners and seasoned meditators alike, to attend meditation workshops and retreats. Being with a trained teacher provides you the guidance, space, and discipline to more fully experience quiet. Like any practice, the more deeply you work at it, the more benefit you will receive. At home, how many of us can tell our family members not speak to us for a few hours while we shut off our phones and dive into blissful, distraction-free meditation? Be honest. ;)

When you attend a silent meditation retreat, the space is already created for you. You simply have to show up. Free from distraction and disturbance, you can immerse yourself into the experience, and realize the tremendous power of being present.

5 Benefits of Silent Meditation

1. Clarity

If you really stop to observe and listen to your own thoughts, you may shocked. Spending an extended period of time in silence allows you to become aware of your inner monologue without attachment or judgement. 

Are there patterns of negative self-talk you’ve been buying into for years, that have been holding you back? 

Are there old paradigms that dictate how you see yourself and the world around you?

How much of your precious energy is spent on needless worry?

The insight you gain through this observance can lead to increased clarity, free from mental clutter. Through this essential process, you realize that you are not, in fact, your thoughts.

2. Stress Reduction

A growing body of research shows that meditation can help reduce your body’s stress response by strengthening your relaxation response and lowering stress hormones like cortisol (Wei, Harvard Medical School 2016). When you attend a silent meditation retreat, you give yourself permission to be present. You have devoted the time to pause, breathe deeply, and slow down — practices which help stimulate the relaxation response in the parasympathetic nervous system. Furthermore, the ancient yogis and sages knew that stress arises when the mind is caught up in the past or the future, either through dwelling on what has already happened or worrying about what hasn’t yet occurred. By strengthening your concentration, you can harness your attention to the present moment, and let go of limiting thought patterns.

3. Contentment

Diving into silence offers a profound insight rooted in the heart of yoga. This is the practice of equanimity, or being content regardless of what is happening around you or within. Typically, you are happy when good things happen, and sad when bad things occur. In this way, you are a victim to circumstance. You are at the whim of external objects and your own ever-changing emotional states. The ancient tradition of yoga reveals to us that there is another way: you can remain centered and calm even through the ups and downs of experience. Your scenarios will change; your peace of mind does not have to. Silence can be your greatest teacher for this key lesson. 

4. Recognizing What’s Important

Gordon Hempton, an acoustic ecologist who has spent his career traveling the globe recording nature soundscapes, says that when you can become quiet, “nothing shouts importance.” Through meditation, the project, situation, or person you were so stressed about and mentally consumed by loses its grip over you. You remember what really is important, beneath the busy-ness of life. You can reconnect to what sets your soul on fire, your purpose, or higher calling. This leads to a more fulfilled experience of life.

5. Connection with Yourself & the World

Throughout your life, so much of your attention is spent externally, interacting with all of the noise. While this is a necessary part of engaging in the modern world, it is rejuvenating to turn your attention inward. Remarkably, by diving internally, you come out the other side of that experience feeling more connected to everything and everyone around. Taking this time for yourself is not selfish — in fact, it often leads to a greater sense of compassion, a widened scope, and feeling less alone. Gordon Hempton says eloquently that in silence, “I hear the presence of everything.”

Want to dive into the experience for yourself?

Join master teacher Larissa Carlson for a 2-day Silent Meditation Retreat at The Lotus Pond Monday and Tuesday, June 26 and 27 (1-day option available). Enjoy 2 days of growth, serenity, and introspection.