Mouna is a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to silence. This practice of silence or nonspeaking is usually introduced in various yoga retreats in the form of a daily time-period when the practitioner doesn’t have to speak. In more advanced level yoga practices, this time-period can stretch up to several days.
A lot of what we think about ourselves, other people, and the world around us is a creation of conversation. We talk, relate experiences, form opinions and our mind starts creating all kinds of thoughts to maintain its momentum. Before we realize, our perception of who we are is dictated by our thoughts. And we get completely lost within them.
How Hatha yoga aids the practice of Mouna?
Hatha yoga enables us to enter a silent space through certain yoga postures that keep the body healthy and fit. Hence our mind can stay focused on silence, without any pains and aches. We’re able to balance the energy flow in our body through pranayama, and are eventually able to create a stillness in our body and mind, reaching the Pratyahara stage, wherein we withdraw from the senses. It is in this place that Mouna starts working its magic!
The magic!
The practice of Mouna gives us a chance to just watch and observe the mind’s activity, without getting involved in it. The simple observation of thoughts and how they trigger various emotions and determine our behaviour, without getting involved, leads to something beautiful.
Once the thoughts settle down, we experience an acute awareness emerging from deep within that silence and stillness. It’s this awareness that is called life. We come to realise that every entity in the world, including ourselves, is bursting with that creative message of life!
It’s to experience this joy of Mouna that hundreds of thousands of people make yoga trips to India or plan yoga holidays in India. If you too wish to study these techniques and many more from a reputed yoga school in India, you must definitely check out the AyurYoga Eco-Ashram’s yoga retreats.