A Lesson in Silence at Chiva-Som

Last summer, I spent some time at Chiva-Som, a wellness retreat in Thailand that approaches health in a very intentional, holistic way. It’s not a place of extremes or rigid rules, but one where everything is designed to slow you down. It’s all about a gentle rhythm: movement, rest, nourishment, and reflection that brings you back to the human basics.

From the moment you arrive, you’re invited to be more present. Meals are thoughtfully prepared, treatments are personalised, and there is a strong emphasis on awareness.

It was there that one of the therapists spoke to me about something deceptively simple: eating in silence. No phone. No conversation. No background noise. Just sitting down and eating.

At first, it sounded almost insignificant. But when I actually tried it, I realised how rarely I do anything without distraction. Silence at the table felt unfamiliar, even slightly uncomfortable. I noticed the impulse to fill the space, to reach for something, anything.

Eating in silence slowed me down. I became aware of flavours, textures, the pace of the meal. I noticed when I was full, instead of eating automatically. It turned a routine habit into a moment of attention.

That experience at Chiva-Som made me reflect on how much noise I had been carrying in my everyday life. There was a period where it was never truly quiet. If I was alone, something was always playing. A podcast, music, my phone close by. Silence felt unnecessary, almost awkward. What I realised is that silence creates space to notice what’s going on inside you, without distraction. You can suddenly hear your intuition and thoughts.

Since that moment at Chiva, I try to invite more quiet into daily moments. Sometimes while eating. Sometimes while walking ( no more podcasts during my walks anymore!). Sometimes by simply leaving my phone in another room. Not perfectly, not all the time, but very very intentionally.

In a world that is constantly loud and demanding attention, choosing silence now and then feels like a small, grounded way of taking care of yourself. I invite you to try eating your breakfast or lunch in complete silence and simply notice how it feels.

With love, Sofie