Three Things I Learned At A Silent Meditation Retreat in Nature
I don’t meditate regularly, so I wasn’t sure if a silent retreat was right for me. But I loved my own version of it. Three of my takeaways:
- Meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting still and silent. I find moving meditation with stretching and “waking up” my body to be more enjoyable. Walking meditation in nature is also a nice way to ground yourself to the earth. Want to try them on your own? Try a guided exercise like these:
- Take A Walk on the Mind Side – Walking meditation podcast
- Easy Flowing Water Movement Meditation – Guided moving meditation video
- Being silent isn’t as hard as I thought it would be! I found out that I didn’t really miss small talk. Having a journal, and not speaking, let me listen more to my inner voice. At the end of the retreat, it was great to get to meet and connect with people who had been silent alongside me.
- It doesn’t have to be perfect to be useful. Sitting meditation is hard. But instead of focusing on what I’m doing imperfectly, I try to appreciate my time sitting quietly. I try not to think about what I “should” do. Nobody’s expectations have to impact me. I can get whatever I want out of my time.
Are you interested in trying meditation with a group? Search for a youth meditation class near you. Many are offered through community centers, libraries and YMCAs.
