My yoga studio is a peaceful haven — surrounded by trees, birdsong, and the gentle rustle of leaves. Most days, it feels like the perfect cocoon for practice. But as anyone who’s joined me here knows, our garden backs onto other people’s gardens… and life in those gardens can be lively sometimes.
There’s the occasional barking dog, maybe a neighbour mowing their lawn, there was what sounded like someone’s oven timer going off last weekend (their food must have been burnt to a crisp!) and then there was that day a few weeks ago when a drill started up right as we began Savasana — and, of course, stopped the moment class ended. Typical!
At first, moments like these can feel frustrating. After all, Savasana is sacred — those five quiet minutes we’ve all been looking forward to throughout the practice. It’s the time when we let go, rest, and allow everything to settle. So when the outside world intrudes, it can be hard not to tense up, wish the noise away, or feel like our calm has been taken from us.
But these interruptions are part of the practice too.
Yoga isn’t about creating perfect silence around us. It’s about discovering the stillness within us, even when the world is beeping, barking, or drilling outside. The noise becomes a teacher, gently inviting us to stay present, to notice our reactions, and to try to relax anyway.
When we can find peace in those moments — when we can let the sound be there without letting it shake us — we’re building a skill that reaches far beyond the mat. Life, after all, is rarely quiet. There will always be distractions, chaos, things beyond our control. But yoga reminds us that we can return, again and again, to that quiet space inside.
So what can we actually do when the noise starts? Here are a few simple techniques that can help:
- Acknowledge it, don’t fight it
The more we resist a sound, the louder it seems to become. Instead of wishing it away, simply notice: “There’s the drill.” Naming it can sometimes help to dissolve its power over you. - Return to your breath
Focus gently on the rise and fall of your breath. Try lengthening your exhale — it activates the body’s relaxation response and brings you back to the present moment. - Let the noise be part of the landscape
This can be challenging but imagine the sound as just another element of your surroundings — like the wind or a bird outside. Try to let it blend into the background, part of the natural symphony around you. - Anchor in the body
Feel the weight of your body resting on the mat. Notice the contact points — heels, hips, shoulders, the back of the head. Focusing on these physical areas can help bring the mind back inside.
So next time a noise distracts you during your practice, perhaps we can take a deep breath, smile at the timing, and let it be part of the experience. Because every sound, every challenge, every interruption is another opportunity to practice calmness in the middle of life’s noise — and to know that our peace doesn’t depend on what’s happening outside. It’s always waiting within.
See you soon in the cabin!
Michelle x
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