Training the mind for silence requires the same enthusiasm and conviction as training the body. And just like exercise, practice and consistency delivers the desired result.
I imagine all good habits, from working out to eating right, starts with a plan. When I started doing yoga my only plan was to shrink the arse following me and to lose an extra chin. It was never my plan to learn a skill set that would prepare my mind and body for meditation, but that's exactly what happened. As it turns out, this is truly what the practice of yoga is all about.
For those that have never tried it, yoga is essentially configuring your body into various positions and then holding that posture for some time. In these positions your muscles tighten and your balance is challenged. Keeping the posture requires extreme focus and attention to what you're doing. And while our bodies are engaged, our mind is tasked solely with concentrating on finding and keeping stillness with each pose. This level of concentration, in the midst of activity, is exactly what an impactful meditation practice requires as well.
In the article Finding Joy Through Movement the author writes:
Our mind, body and spirit are so intimately linked that everything we experience is stored within us. Oftentimes, aches, pains and illnesses that seemingly come out of nowhere have an emotional, psychological or spiritual root, and coming back to our body can induce great healing.
I have found this to be 100% true and because it's hard to convey how this works without actually feeling it, I'm encouraging each of you to try yoga on your own. There are YouTube resources and various apps to get you going. If you prefer an in-person experience, most yoga studios offer a free 1-week trial to test it out. With all of these options available, definitely take advantage.