Choose rest before it chooses you…
The Power of Rest and 5 Ways to Use it for Good
One of the biggest lessons from the mat is the importance of taking the time to pause and rest.
Growing up we aren’t taught how to rest and reset, in fact quite the opposite, hustle culture is glorified, we are praised for being busy, staying late in the office, we even have a popular saying for it ‘burning the candle at both ends’.
“Even a candle wouldn’t want to burn from both ends, so why would you”
Verity
Recently, I was describing myself as being a little under the weather, (another interesting saying but I’ll remain on point) I wasn’t under the weather I was sick.
I didn’t want to be sick and as is always the way I didn’t have the time to be sick.
SO guess how my body responded to this refusal to admit I wasn’t feeling very good?
I lost my voice.
Yep, I woke up one morning and had no voice.
My unwell body took the one thing I needed in order ‘to power through’. (I actually said these words).
My intuitive body, wasn’t having any of it and took the main instrument of my work - my voice.
This got me thinking about why I still have the type of relationship with the ‘R’ word that I teach about and how it’s a struggle to accept rest is actually a good thing.
“Sometimes doing nothing is the most productive thing we can do.”
If you know me, you already know that I do love a teachable moment, especially the ones we can learn on the mat, then take into our lives off the mat.
This was one of those moments, with no voice and some space to rest I came up with 5 ways to use use rest as a power for good.
Choose them before your body forces it upon you, usually in the guise of burnout or illness.
Rest for Strength we often think that we grow stronger at the point of effort, but our muscles actually grow stronger during the rest and recovery after exercise. By giving our body and muscles enough time to recover after the effort they get stronger, but this only happens during rest.
Try This: If you’re training the body physically, be sure to make rest and recovery a priority, rest isn’t only sleeping - active recovery like yoga, mobility or walking are ways to rest the body during the day when you are taking a break from work or tasks that need a lot of your concentration.
Rest for Clarity when we keep pushing through and constantly keep ourselves busy our minds become cluttered. Taking some intentional rest - which can look like a short meditation, a tech-free walk in nature or even sitting for a few moments in stillness - all creates space within you for more clarity. This kind of rest can help you to step back, reassess priorities, and make better informed decisions.
Try This: Schedule 10 minutes in your day to sit and look out of a window, find something to focus on and simply sit with yourself for the 10 minutes. Set a timer so you aren’t watching the clock.
Rest for Creativity have you ever noticed that you the best ideas in the shower? This is because the best ideas usually come when we’re not actively trying to tink about them. Creatvity flourishes in the moments of pause. Rest gives the brain time to wander helps fresh ideas and solutions to emerge when we expect them the least.
Try This: Next time your working on something and the ideas/solutions aren’t flowing, take a break. Listen to some music, doodle, stare out of a window. Let the mind relax and give it the space it needs to figure things out.
Rest for Connection Being spread too thin makes it hard to be present with those in life you care about. Quality rest enhances your ability to connect- not only with yourself but to those around you. Rest, improves mood, patience and emotional availability, all of these help to make relationships more meaningful.
Try This: Create yourself a wind-down ritual before any social interactions. Either a short moment of stillness, deep breathing or stretching, these can help you enter time with other with more presence and an openness other will notice.
Rest for Growth resting is not about doing nothing - it’s about creating space within yourself for transformation. In the stillness, we can bring together our experiences, absorb knowledges and prepare our bodies and minds for what ever is coming next. Rest is where our growth takes it’s roots and prepares our central nervous systems for that growth.
Try This: Next time you feel like just pushing through exhaustion, pause and remember that strength, growth, clarity, creativity and connection all come from taking the time you need to rest. Trust that pausing to rest will propel you forward.
Now we know that rest is not a sign of weakness-it is actually our secret weapon. When we learn to rest well we are letting our body know that we care enough to give it what it needs, and it will repay us by healing, getting stronger and figuring things out a little easier.
Lets’s try it, what will you be doing to give yourself a restful pause?
Vxx
PS. If rest is something you find hard, it’s something we help to show you during our Yoga & Aromatherapy retreats. For all the details click the button below.
