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Silent Retreat Vacation May Provide More Relaxation

MIAMI (CBS4) – A new way of vacationing may be the answer to a lot of problems for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the loud chaos in their life - and all it requires you to do is simply tune out the noise.

Jayne Charneski, a marketing executive, knows what it feels like to always be busy.

"I was working a lot of late nights and weekends and it was just really intense," Charneski told CBS4's Lisa Petrillo.

Her hectic schedule required her to always be either on the computer or on the phone, giving her little-to-no down time for herself.

When Charneski noticed how busy she was, she decided to take a break from all of the noise and go on a five-day silent retreat.

The retreat required her to go on a trip and take a vow of silence.

"I thought it would give me a way to take inventory," said Charneshi.

The silent retreat is starting to become a huge travel trend said Travel + Leisure magazine's Associate Editor Kathryn O'Shea-Evans.

So why has the speechless vacation been so popular and effective?

O'Shea-Evans feels that people's lives have been so bombarded with endless texts, Facebook, Twitter messages, emails and phone calls that "Sometimes as human beings we just need to unplug and get away."

The innovative 'get-away' can be held at various retreat centers which range from bare-bone accommodations to luxury resorts, with pricing that reflects both.

On the retreat you can participate in various activities like hiking, canoeing, spa treatments and of course, reading.

Some retreat centers allow group interaction while others encourage you to spend time on your own. The amount of silence can also vary; where some retreats may require total silence, others have select periods of silence.

However, the majority of centers may ask that you leave your technology at the door.

"It's our belief that by becoming disconnected in the ways we connect through our technology we can become more connected to ourselves," said Nat Reid, director of Silent Retreat Center.

Reid explained that while staying silent may be difficult for some, it can also be transformative.

"People often talk about a renewed sense of wonder, kind of rediscovering the joy of being out on a beautiful day and maybe just watching the way the light changes in the evening," said Reid.

Gale Quick isn't one to argue, he's been going on silent retreats for 30 years.

"Get a little better focus, a little better distance from the pressures and busyness of everyday life," said Quick.

Charneski agrees, she said the benefits of her one-time retreat speak volumes for itself.

"It was a good chance to be quiet and see what was going on," said Charneski.

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