Stillness is Not Sitting Still
Sitting still has never been a goal of mine. Just the thought of it makes me want to run. Yet I can sit for hours in the presence of the ocean, the woods, or even a field of corn. Over the years, I have come to appreciate the deep wisdom and healing that stillness affords.
Redefining Stillness
Stillness is not about sitting in silence while chaos burns around you. It’s not about resisting movement or forcing your mind to be quiet. It’s an active state of engagement—a way of being fully present in both body and mind. It can even include movement.
Stillness is essential for our nervous system, cognitive function, and emotional resilience. It’s how the body recovers from daily stress and the weight of modern life. Cultivating stillness improves heart rate variability (a key indicator of health), reduces stress hormones, enhances neuroplasticity, and strengthens emotional regulation (how good does that sound?).
Yet despite its benefits—and how good it feels once we reach it—many of us struggle to get there. Why? Because stillness has been hijacked by outdated definitions and misconceptions.
The Misconception of Stillness: Not an Absence, but a Presence
For many, stillness conjures ideas of unproductivity, stagnation, indulgence—things the modern mind often resists. At the mention of the word, people respond:
- “I don’t have time to sit and do nothing.”
- “I can’t just sit still—I need to move!”
- “My mind won’t stop racing, so I must be doing it wrong.”
- “I’ll be still when I’m dead.”
But true stillness is not about stopping movement—it’s about being fully attuned to the moment, no matter what is happening around you.
This is the stillness of deep awareness, the kind that exists even in motion—like:
- The ocean’s depths, calm while the surface moves.
- The eye of a storm, steady while everything swirls.
- A hawk gliding, effortlessly still in the air while covering miles.
This stillness is about allowing.
Allowing: The Soft Stillness of Surrender
Allowing is not the forced stillness of discipline but the natural stillness of surrender. It’s when:
- You stop resisting what’s happening and let it unfold.
- You release control but not awareness.
- You shift from pushing against to flowing with.
- You let thoughts come and go without wrestling with them.
This kind of stillness isn’t about doing nothing—it’s about doing without tension. It’s being in the world without being whipped around by it.
How to Move Past the False Belief About Stillness
- Get Curious – What images come to mind when you think of stillness? If they aren’t supportive, redefine them.
- Reframe It – Instead of “doing nothing,” think of stillness as “fully experiencing.”
- Notice Small Moments – The sounds of the world around you, the weight of the air on your skin, the movement of your breath.
Stillness isn’t an escape—it’s an arrival.
The Ocean’s Embrace: A Natural Gateway to Stillness
The Ocean’s Embrace: A Natural Gateway to StillnessThroughout history, the ocean has been revered as a source of sustenance, spirituality, and renewal. Today, many of us have lost touch with this relationship. Yet, the moment we become present to the ocean—the rhythmic sound of waves, the salty breeze, the endless horizon—our bodies instinctively respond with a sense of peace.
Sailing amplifies this effect. The act of sailing requires a balance between attention and relaxation, fostering mindful presence. As the boat glides through the water, it’s nearly impossible not to feel a deep connection with nature and ourselves.
Sailing as a Conduit for Inner Stillness
Sailing is not just a fun afternoon—it’s a journey into the self. It mirrors the duality of life: requiring focus yet offering deep tranquility. The movement of the boat, the sound of the wind in the sails, the open water stretching infinitely ahead—all of these naturally induce inner stillness.
Three Ways Sailing Cultivates Stillness in Motion
- Feeling the Rhythm of the Boat
- Instead of bracing against movement, sync with it. Feel the way the boat rises and falls with the water. Let your body follow, allowing stillness to exist inside the motion.
- Soft Focus on the Horizon
- Rest your gaze on a distant point. Notice how the boat moves beneath you, yet the horizon remains steady. This anchors you in presence without forcing stillness.
- Breathing with the Wind
- Face the wind and let it guide your breath. Inhale as it picks up, exhale as it slows. This naturally calms the nervous system and invites effortless presence.
The Synergy of Nature and Mindfulness
Immersing ourselves in nature fosters effortless mindfulness. Even small moments—watching trees sway, listening to the tide, feeling the ocean breeze—gently anchor us in the present. The ocean doesn’t force you into stillness. It invites you.
Embark on a Journey of Renewal
For those seeking to reconnect with nature and themselves, we offer experiences that blend sailing with movement, mindfulness, and creative expression.
Our retreats are designed to restore your natural state of being—calm, aware, and connected—through:
- Sailing – Learning stillness inside movement.
- Meditation & Breathwork – Expanding awareness through evolutionary meditation practices.
- Outdoor Yoga – Finding presence through gentle movement.
- Creative Writing – Exploring inner landscapes while surrounded by the sea.
Through these practices, you’ll discover a new kind of stillness—one that arises not from stopping, but from flowing.
Check out our Day Retreats:
