Many Yoga practitioners are familiar with the value of a silent retreat to an Ashram or another sacred place. An extended silence turns the mind inward, which makes us more mindful during Yoga and meditation practice. Silent Yoga retreats give us "breathing room" and allow our minds a chance to wind down.

This is all well and good, but what if you do not have weeks to awaken your inner light in the company of your favorite Guru? You completely realize the benefits of relaxing and rejuvenating in silence, but you have time commitments or financial restraints that prevent it.

What action can you take that will result in a journey of self-discovery and development of inner strength? If you cannot go to a silent Yoga retreat, there is a way to bring it to you, but it requires a commitment, and you may just discover inner strengths you were not aware of.

How many days would you like to go away? Sit down and write a realistic agreement of how many days you can wake up early and practice in silence. In order to do this, you will have to go to bed an hour or two earlier. On the following morning, you can begin to create an everyday silent retreat in your own sacred space and time.

What should you do? Let's look at the potential opportunities you have by getting out of bed early and practicing in silence. Many people think Yoga revolves around asana only. This is a good physical activity in the morning, after a warm-up, but you have a large variety of options to choose from.

Silent prayer, mantra, japa, and positive affirmations will steady your mind and purge pessimism from your inner being. The mental, emotional, and spiritual value of this practice cannot be understated.

Pranayama easily helps one connect the mind and body. However, you should practice the silent variations of pranayama, without waking other people in your house. In the case of Udgeeth pranayama, one could recite "Om" mentally, without having to make any noise.

Reading in silence is a perfect way to expand your mind and absorb motivational content. You can read scriptures or motivational books. If you can disconnect your PC, or lap top, and discipline yourself to stay off the Internet, an e-Book could also be beneficial.

The only reason for avoiding the Internet is to stay away from multi-tasking. A silent Yoga retreat is much like meditation in motion. The Internet is a valuable resource, but it is also a distraction from focusing your mind.

Meditation, of all kinds, is a powerful method for starting your day in silence. There are so many methods for meditation that you could easily choose something different each day for weeks.

You could practice a walking meditation, but do take the time to break the silence with friendly neighbors and dogs. Combining meditation, with positive visualization, can change your life with the Law of Attraction.

The positive results of starting your day, as a silent retreat, are profound. All that is required is for you to go to bed earlier and do something constructive in silence.

Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications