Remembering How To Rest
My favorite quote I have seen as of late came from a random person’s tweet that went viral: “Right now, everyone needs more than anyone can give.”
I am for any kind of self-care. Whatever you need. A bath. A sweet treat. A call with a friend. A walk. An at-home facial. A good cry. A day on the couch watching Netflix. It's all valid. AND I know…
when I am actually in need of healing - when I need to rest my brain, my energy, my cells - restorative yoga is what really does it for me.
In a restorative practice, we allow time for the body to relax fully - not just the muscles, but on a systemic, cellular level. To me, personally, I feel the effects of restorative yoga deeply, not just in the physical body, but in the mental, emotional, and energetic bodies as well. We sustain postures in order to actively practice moving toward comfort. We are practicing trust, in our bodies AND in our support. We're remembering how to rest.
In restorative, our "aim" (if there is one), is to remove resistance from the body, by allowing props and the ground to do the work for us. We remove physical discomfort altogether. Usually, that leads to a deep energetic and emotional relaxation.
But not always.
Every now and then, you might notice some resistance to relaxation. Sometimes, the stillness can be confronting, or even frustrating. THIS IS NORMAL.
Restorative yoga is a form of meditation. And just like with other forms of meditation, when everything else is set aside, you are left alone with yourself, and that can be jarring. However, I can say that in my years of teaching this class, 9 times out of 10, students are just left feeling sweetly relaxed. And when students DO experience an emotional reaction, 9 times out of 10, they describe an overwhelming feeling of utter relief.
However, if you find some resistance, some fear, some holding...just notice. Observe the quality of the resistance, where it is living in your body. And in the moment, see if you can care for yourself like you would a loved one. See if you can soften, self-soothe, and gently, gently, practice trusting that you are allowed to be there, just resting.
“Right now, everyone needs more than anyone can give.”
If I could be with you all in person, I would be there to put blankets over you while you rest. To quietly help you find the perfect placement of your props. To remind you of what it means to ground, and help you find that gentle, embodied feeling of utter relief. Since I can't be there, I'm inviting you to do that for yourself. Give yourself what you need.