Shut up and heal: silence is golden; it's also good for your health

A FEW MINUTES OF DEDICATED QUIET each day reduces stress levels and offers a way to appreciate things that are obscured by noise and commotion. In one sense, it's like observing the space in a room instead of the objects in it.

"In silence, we're calmer," says Sharon Salzberg, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Mass. "Silence helps us connect to that which we normally miss--elements of our experience that are subtle yet rich."

For some people, settling into silence isn't easy. It can be associated with bottled-up energy and forced-down feelings. "It's easy to confuse silence with being silenced, yet silence serves not to close us down but to open us up," Salzberg notes. "Silence doesn't separate us from our inner world, it links us to it."

While giving up the addictive power of noise requires willpower--when was the last time your radio, television, iPod, and cellphone were all switched off at the same time?--you don't have to be a meditation whiz to enjoy the benefits of silence.

Start with specific moments: "In the spirit of exploration, tell yourself that for a week you won't turn on the TV during meals," suggests Salzberg. "You will just eat your food and be able to more fully experience its taste, touch, and scent." View this as an adventure, not a chore, and soon you'll tune in to the healthful sound of silence.

SILENCE AND THE CITY

The world around you may not be quiet, but you can still be still. "Silence doesn't mean blocking out sound," says Salzberg."You can experience the silence of not reacting to sound." If you do seek to reduce the surrounding decibels, invest in some noise-canceling headphones or turn to these trusted outlets of tranquility:

Designed to facilitate reading, libraries can also be conducive to contemplation and meditation.

Most places of worship are open every day and offer instant, free access to silence regardless of your religious affiliation.

While not required to be quiet, aficionados of museums tend to keep it to a low murmur.

Between the opening chants, teacher's instructions, and deep breathing, a great quiet can be savored at yoga studios.

Creating silence in your everyday life is one thing--a hushed haven is another. The Insight Meditation Society (dharma.org) offers silent retreats all year; other venues can be found at retreatsonline.com.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group