How I Became Happier After a Silent Retreat

I was intrigued when I started hearing about silent mediation retreats while I was in Thailand. I knew I wanted to try a silent retreat, but the more I heard about them the more I was unsure if I was cut out to do it. The one that most people do is the Vipassana 10 day silent mediation retreat. These are usually held at a Buddhist temple all over the world and are very strict in nature.

• It is by donation, which makes them very popular.
• You are up at 4 am every day to start meditating.
• Meditate for 10.5 hours each day
• Breakfast and lunch are provided but then you’ll fast until breakfast the next day
• No reading
• You cannot write
• All meditating is done sitting with no support. I don’t have the best back so that was very worrisome for me. (It can be different depending on the type of meditation that is practiced where you are)

The thing was though, everyone I talked to who did this, came out of it a changed person. Yes, they admitted there were very difficult times…apparently day 3 is the hardest but once you get through that you get into a groove. It took 2 years after I first heard about it for me to finally do a silent retreat.  

Now I still had reservations of this particular one, plus they book up very fast so it was not always available when I wanted it. I was going to Bali and I wanted to look into doing one here. I researched all different kinds of silent retreats and I came across the perfect one for me. This one had mediation and yoga components, you can come for as little or as many days as you want. All your food was included, which was vegetarian/vegan and all from their gardens and expertly made, you could read and journal. You didn’t have to join in any of the mediations, yoga or any other events, you could do as you please, but the whole complex was mandatory silent. They had different types of accommodations for privacy and budgets. They also offered different excursions that you could join in on each day.  

This place is called Bali Silent Retreat and it seemed to be the only one of its kind. Most silent retreats are either a specific retreat available only at certain times of the year which are very expensive, or the Vipassana meditation retreat.

I booked in for eight days and called this my “silent retreat lite”. I loved the non-strictness of this one, and that it was in the middle of nowhere. I did have some obvious reservations about it being in the middle of rice fields though. I am scared of snakes and this is the place for them to hang out. I didn’t see any, but I also didn’t look where I didn’t want to see them. I hummed to myself every time I walked from my dorm room to the main building, any noise I heard I would always tell myself was a bird, and I didn’t partake in certain solo mediation areas or excursions.  

The first couple days, the silence is deafening. There is that constant ringing in your ears of all the noise you came from. I partook in all that was on offer for the first few days getting up early for mediations and yoga, trying to do everything. Once I found my groove I settled into my rhythm. I gave myself permission to not do everything, and only do what I felt like. I got up early, but I didn’t go to yoga or mediation, I went to the sitting room/library in the main building and had the place to myself watching the sun rise while I wrote in my journal. I spent most of my days just reading and writing and pondering and relaxing.  

For many reasons I absolutely loved it being silent.

First you don’t feel obligated to talk to people and make small talk, which can be exhausting in itself.

Second it clears all the clutter in your brain. Ideas and creativity come easily. Thoughts that you hadn’t thought about for a long time come up and you can work through a lot of things that are stuck in your brain.

I found it no problem at all being silent for a long time. I know I could have gone a lot longer but that will have to be done another time. There are areas that you can talk here if you need/want to, but I didn’t feel the need. I did do two excursions, one to a large local temple, but I didn’t end up talking during it. I also did the excursion to the hot springs, and was joined by two other girls, and we had conversations for the 2hrs we were there. This was also where I learned of their snake sightings, and me determining that I didn’t need to go on any other excursions. LOL  

I went to meditations and yoga class when I wanted. I did the meditation labyrinth, and the crystal walk when I wanted, I read 4 books and wrote a ton! The food is delicious here, I ate amazingly well. I discovered that I could go without eating any meat, not that I am choosing to do that, but I now know I can.  

I went for the inexpensive accommodations of the dorm room. They are separated male/females. The beds were really comfortable and off the ground and really nice. I think I also preferred having other people in the room in case some big creepy crawlies or god forbid a snake got in. It gave me a little peace of mind 😀 It was also wonderful to not be anywhere near digital items. I had my phone with me but only to tell the time and to take photos and my kindle with me to read books.  

I usually camped out on one of the spots on the couches reading, writing or pondering. I also loved watching the little lizards run across the floors and I especially loved watching the giant flying bugs fly near some people and them freaking out silently…I could hardly contain my giggles.  

I left here a better person, calmer, happier, and connected to myself. If you ever get the chance to do a silent retreat, I would highly recommend it. Bali Silent Retreat was amazing, and I would do it over and over again but go for longer next time. I think no matter where you go to do this, you will come out of it a changed person for the better.  

Wellness trips like these are an amazing way to get back to yourself. When planning your trip, follow my Travel Checklist to ensure nothing goes wrong. Get your FREE copy here.