What does rest mean to you?

Hello Women, 

Wherever you are in the world, I hope our small Sacred Pause here today finds you well and ready to take a few minutes to sit, slow down, be right where you are and come into a space of tranquility. Drink tea with me, or just raise your feet if you can, for this short pause in your day. 

I’ve been contemplating how the word rest resonates with me and others lately. Maybe it’s because the world feels a little exhausting right now, or maybe it’s because I’ve never been very good at finding the space in my day to incorporate rest: raising two kids, homeschooling them for ten years, working, being someone who needs to feel busy! Who knows....

So, after some pondering on this subject, here are some of my thoughts about the concept of unwinding, calming our minds and feeling a sense of renewal in our being. 

It’s such a small word, rest. Just four letters and we take its presence in the English language for granted. We say things like “Oh yeah... I better get some rest” or “Wow, I’m so tired, I wish I could get some rest.” But as I’ve contemplated this small word, I’ve actually discovered that it’s a much larger concept and, one that can be tricky to truly grasp and execute. 

My sister is so good at the concept of rest. She knows her limits and in order to stay on top of her health, she rests. She actively rests: she schedules it into her day, has her routine of restful occupations planned, and has a restful location in her home prepared. She is truly experienced in the art of rest! But for most women, learning to rest more and better, could be a missing link for sustaining wellbeing, productivity and happiness. 

So, how do we rest? Well... as with many things, it’s so individual. We may have this idea of lying on a beach, book in hand, cool drink beside us, spending the day relaxing in the sunshine and call it rest. But this happens so infrequently, it’s not part of our everyday lives. So, like my sister, I think we need to make a road map of how, when and where to rest and apply it to our daily living: trying out activities we find restful, discovering what calms us, what replenishes us in mind and body, and then actively scheduling them in as part of our routine and self care. 

What are restful activities? This is a very good question! I talked to some women and thought about this myself, and this is what I came up with: 

Yoga - Restorative yoga is an amazing way to rest mind and body! It’s my go to prescription for rest and is at the top of my list for increasing my feeling of well being and replenishing energy. 

Reading - books you love, magazines of interest, blog post like this or anything that captures your attention enough to sit down and rest while reading! 

Walking - in nature or just in your neighbourhood, without needing to be anywhere else; just enjoying the feeling of movement, the elements outside and being with your thoughts. 

Time in nature - another of my favourite ways to rest. Nature is a wonderful healer in all respects. Just being in a forest, or by the ocean, or even beside a river, all our senses are alive and in tune with Source Energy. Feelings of renewal and connection to the earth are pretty much guaranteed!

Doing nothing - so hard to do for many. However, doing nothing in particular and being okay with it, is an art in itself. One which can calm and brings spaciousness to the mind. 

I hope that reading this was restful and that it has given you some ideas for incorporating rest into your days. Rest can truly be a spiritual practice. The more I contemplate the art of sacred rest, talk about it to my clients, teach it in the forms of restorative yoga and nature therapy, the more I see it promoting women’s wellness and bringing feelings of calm and serenity into our lives. 

I’d love to hear what you think about the art of rest and any of the ideas and musings I’ve shared here today. And if you would like an opportunity to rest and renew with me, in my weekly lunchtime restorative yoga and energy work experience, hit the contact me button to sign up. It’s my gift to you! Thank you for taking this sacred pause with me and I’ll see you here again very soon...