A long walk with my dog, Juno renews my reserves. So does a conversation with an old friend. You know what else helps me feel rested? Finishing a task that I’ve been putting off. Just like yoga, resting is a daily practice that isn’t one size fits all. The way that one person practices rest may look different than another person’s rest.
I invite you to join me this month reading the book Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. Hersey looks at rest as a daily practice and a form of resistance to what she calls “grind culture”. In her book she says, “Reimagining rest is about more than naps. It’s an ethos of slowing down, connecting, and reimagining…There are not enough words to explain to anyone what deep, tender rest feels like. Rest must be practiced daily until it becomes our foundation.”
Here is a list of ways that we can rest:
Closing your eyes for ten minutes.
A longer shower in silence.
Daydreaming by staring out of a window.
A Sun Salutation.
Praying
Crafting a small altar for your home.
Taking regular breaks from social media.
Not immediately responding to texts and emails.
A meditative walk in nature.
Laughing intensely.
I look forward to exploring how we can practice rest together this month.
With gratitude,
Kate