Mauna is a Sanskrit word meaning "silence". In yoga mauna represents the practice of silence. When we are without verbal communication, we can better observe the world around us and turn more inward. In order to practice mauna it is not necessary to go far away from the world to mountains or forests, ashrams or retreats/retreats although that is also possible, all we need is to take a break for a while, some space and a calm/quiet place without stimulants (TV, phone, the radio, …). Mauna can be practiced during the day - set aside some time for silence, while we eat for example, in the evening before going to bed or on weekends when we have more time. The practice of mauna can last from a few minutes/hours to a few days. Some of the benefits of mauna are calming the mind, silencing scattered thoughts and creating space for self-reflection. The calming effect of silence helps us to see things more clearly and to be in a deeper connection with ourselves and the people around us.
Simple, yet demanding, but worth a try, because we are exposed not only to external noise but also to mental noise within ourselves, so these few moments of silence will give us refreshment and regeneration both on a physical and mental level.
