The Sound of Silence #Nature

The Sound of Silence

While there are many ways to relax, one of the best remedies is to focus on how quiet time can help your body recoup and relax. Ahh, the sound of silence can be so sweet.

On any given day, if you stop and listen you can hear a myriad of sounds that seem to come from all directions. Sometimes we have the ability to drown out the noise, while on other days it becomes so intense we long for a moment of absolute silence. We become so used to the din that we often do not realize the effect it has on our psychological and physical wellbeing.

If you've ever been inside a public school, the noise can be deafening. You can't wait to finish the business at hand and head out the door to a more peaceful setting. But in fact, there is just as much environmental noise that we have become accustomed to during the course of our lives.

Spending five to ten minutes alone in silence can make all the difference to how we feel. Although some people find sitting in complete silence difficult to do, as with anything else it is a learned experience.

Let's try an experiment. Find a quiet room in your home, close the door, and choose a spot in the room where you can sit down in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply. Focus on the breathing; listen to it. You may hear peripheral sounds coming from inside or outside the home. Instead of trying to block them out, just ignore them. As you continue to deep breathe, relax your body and begin to breathe naturally. The tension is slowly leaving your body. You are totally relaxed and feel rejuvenated. Congratulations! You have just spent ten minutes in silence. It wasn't so hard, was it?

During the hustle and bustle of a busy day, we don't realize how many times we have the opportunity to enjoy the sound of silence. The effects are immediate. The blood pressure returns to normal, the stress dissipates, the body loses all the tenseness associated with stress, and we enter a relaxed state.

There are other places where one can attain the same effect. Perhaps a walk in the park early on a Sunday morning or sitting under a shaded tree; or a morning cup of coffee on the patio or sitting on the beach watching the sun rise.

We may not be accustomed to entering a world of silence. But even if it's for only a few minutes, the benefits derived are immeasurable. Give it a try; you may find the experience more pleasant that you've imagined.

Why the Sounds of Nature are a Great Relaxation Technique

What types of music do you enjoy the most: new age, classical, pop, world, or instrumental? Do you own any relaxation CDs such as sounds of the ocean, nature, waterfalls? If not, you may want to include a few in your collection. A case can be made why the sounds of nature are a great relaxation technique.

If you live in a suburban area, what is the first thing you hear in the morning when you wake up? For some, it is the symphonic chorus of birds calling to each other. If you listen closely, you can hear a repetitive pattern emerge. It is quite soothing.

Conversely, city dwellers may be exposed to garbage trucks picking up the morning trash, cars honking, sirens blasting - sounds that are not in any way conducive to starting off the day in a relaxed state.

But what if you can experience the sounds of nature simply by popping in a CD and putting on the headphones? Today, there are more CDs devoted to sounds of nature than ever before. The reason is because the noise level in our cities and towns has drowned out the sounds of nature, and the stresses of daily life seem to build up to a cacophony of endless discord.

While there are those who seek relaxation by utilizing meditative practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong, for others it is difficult to find the time. In a world where there is little time for relaxation, we look to find other ways to achieve the same effect.

During the Christmas holidays, there is a TV station that plays the Yule Log every year. One can either listen to the music or mute the sound and just nestle in a favorite chair and enjoy the fireplace on the screen. The feeling of warmth begins to envelop your being and you feel good, right?

Playing sounds of nature has a similar effect. You can lie down and listen to ocean waves hit the shore, or listen to waterfalls and imagine you are there, or hear the birds call to each other upon sunrise. Whether it's watching a squirrel retrieve nuts hidden long ago, or witnessing fledglings take flight for the first time ñ there is so much life happening around us.

Nature has a way of reminding us to slow down, to bring about an inner peace and balance that nature provides. Try listening to sounds of nature, especially on those days when it seems as if there is no escape from the harsh sounds of reality.