Omni Hotels & Resorts Escapes: 2019
Photo courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Seeking Silence
In an exponentially loud world, quiet time is more important than ever for promoting wellness.
As the use of technology and our reliance on machines continue to increase, silence has quickly become an anomaly in modern society. Whether it’s the sound of traffic, smartphone notifications or advertisements, noise pollution surrounds us, and our minds and bodies are constantly being affected by it.
Lana Saal of the National Wellness Institute, who works as a certified wellness practitioner and master-certified health education specialist, explains that the brain often interprets noise as a signal for danger that activates our fight-or-flight response. This can lead to many negative effects, and it doesn’t help that we are continuously being bombarded with sounds.
“One of the primary dangers associated with noise is hearing loss that can begin at about 85 decibels—the sound of a hair dryer, food processor, et cetera—from exposure activities, frequency, sound level [and] … lack of use of hearing protection,” Saal says, noting that neither surgery nor hearing aids can help correct this type of hearing loss.
Other physical and psychological effects of auditory stress include increased blood pressure and heart rate as well as reduced productivity and concentration, mental fatigue, anxiety, irritability and more.
So, what can we do to avoid this onslaught of noise pollution? “The answer is through silence,” Saal says, noting that deep breathing is a simple way to relax, as regulating one’s breath can help with managing emotions and energy levels. Other techniques she recommends include investing in earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones, muting cellphones and computers, as well as escaping to a natural setting.
Photo courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Gorgeous Getaway
Omni Hotels & Resorts have various programs and activities that can help those seeking silence find that respite. For an outdoor escape, head to The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. It offers a morning hike along the Cascades Gorge, which takes participants past a series of awe-inspiring waterfalls. The only sounds are those of the natural environment.
“I have come to know the power and meditative benefits of being ‘as one’ with nature,” says naturalist Brian La Fountain, who helps lead these hikes. “… I have noticed one very prominent aspect of humanity after all this time, and that is, the further away one gets from the natural world, the unhealthier they seem to be of mind, body and spirit. Those that … immerse themselves in nature as much as possible tend to be far happier and healthier.”
It has been proven that those who spend most of their time in an office, or other closed-off spaces, show higher levels of depression, stress and anxiety compared to individuals with consistent access to the outdoors. La Fountain has also seen how being near waterfalls, in particular, can often help people feel instantly comforted, happy and even enlightened through the heightened production of negative ions, which enhance moods and promote alpha brain waves that increase awareness.
“I can be having a very stressful or trying period in my life, and as soon as I get into the gorge, I find instant emotional release and an overwhelming sense of calm,” he says, recalling words of wisdom from his grandmother, who always advised him to go outside to clear his mind.
Photo courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
The Miracle of Meditation
There are many ways to clear one’s mind, another being the Perfect Health retreat out of The Chopra Center at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, with six- or 10-day programs that include two daily group meditations as well as silent bodywork treatments.
“Silence is such a simple gift you can give yourself, but in our busy world, it may feel nearly impossible to find,” says Gail Vogt, who serves as senior director of marketing for The Chopra Center. “At our Perfect Health retreat, you give yourself the gift of dedicated time spent meditating, reflecting, slowing down and relaxing.”
Vogt notes that carving out silent time “can help relieve stress, replenish mental resources, reduce anxiety, enhance sleep patterns and foster inner peace,” and says meditation is the most direct way to achieve this.
One of the techniques the retreat teaches is Primordial Sound Meditation, which involves silence while focusing on a personalized mantra. “[Primordial Sound Meditation] isn’t about forcing your mind to be quiet, it’s about experiencing the silence that’s already there and making it a part of your life,” Vogt says.
