Stillness and silence is one of the hardest things to practice. We all live these hectic, busy lives and when we’re not at work or with friends, we’re either looking at our phones or are pottering around listening to music or with the TV on in the background. Be honest, when was the last time you were really and truly silent and still, just letting your mind connect with your body? When someone recently asked me that question I thought to myself that I’m silent all the time, but then when I really tried it I realised that tapping away at my computer or colouring-in without any background noise still doesn’t count.
You all know that I love a good back bend, but I’ve recently discovered that there’s also nothing quite like a bit of restorative yoga to really take your calmness to the next level and to focus on your mind just as much as your body. Especially if you don’t think you’re quite ready to just switch off on your own accord, this could be a good option for you.
When I first tried restorative yoga, I’ll be honest, I was a little unsure and genuinely thought I’d be bored, but that wasn’t the case at all. In the simplest description, it was like adult nap time, connecting my mind to my body in the calmest way possible. It is the centring of your breath and body – aligning your physical and mental being by practising stillness or gentle movement for extended periods of time.
If you already do yoga then you might be familiar with some of the poses. For example, savasana (aka corpse pose) is one of them. You may walk past a yoga class and see a group of people lying on their back and think that hardly looks like anything special, but savasana is actually one of the hardest yoga poses to master, as it requires you body to work in harmony with your mind, relaxing every single muscle, working on your breathing techniques and resetting your body. This style of yoga allows us to see clearly, to find our true natural state and to heal.
The Importance of Silence
Sometimes it’s not until we take a bit of time out and experience a slice of silence, that we actually realise how much we need it. In a fast-paced world, it’s so important to take a step back, breathe, look around and be grateful.
Here are some of the benefits of being silent:
1. Emotional cleansing
2. Creative ideas are formed
3. Increases self awareness
4. Improves memory
5. Heightened sensitivity
Maybe set yourself a new intention and try to be silent for at least 5 minutes every day. Let me know how you get on. I think you’ll be surprised with the outcome!
Love, Cat x