The Sound Of Silence

What happens when a seasoned yoga teacher and meditation practitioner goes on a 10-day silent vipassana meditation retreat? Lauren Eckstrom reports.

- Lauren Eckstrom

I’ve been meditating for a long time, but as I arrived in North Fork, California, just outside of Yosemite National Park, for my first 10-day vipassana retreat, I was terrified.

What have I gotten myself into? I wondered as I drove down the dirt path to the California Vipassana Meditation Center. What if we get dragged into another world war and no one can reach me?

My nerves were running high. I was about to spend a whopping 10 hours and 45 minutes a day in seated meditation in complete silence—no phone, computer, journal, books, exercise, yoga, or speaking.

Not talking seemed like it was going to be easy. As a yoga and meditation teacher, I spend all day every day using my voice. The silence felt like a welcome reprieve. But no journaling, reading, or yoga? That felt downright cruel.