The Power of Rest

I hope you are feeling rested after the Easter break. I had a wonderful few days resting, eating, creating and blobbing out with my family, doing pretty much fuck-all!  

Rest is something I am now really good at. It wasn't always this way! I have always been a high-energy, get-it-done kind of human. For most of my life, I dismissed rest as something for "other people". I even judged "resters" as lazy!

Fifteen years ago, my body was struggling. I could feel it. I felt heavy. I felt permanently fatigued. I had been pushing through, doing more, giving my body more. My body didn't need more doing - it needed nothing. Literally, to do nothing!

I signed up for a retreat where I met Neal, a contemporary yoga teacher obsessed with rest and kindness. Neal introduced me to restorative yoga, which is completely different from achievement yoga. I didn't have to be flexible or twist my body into weird shapes. I just needed to lie down!

We gathered blankets and bolsters, and cushions, learning different poses that created supported spaces for our bodies. As I lay crumpled on the floor, trying to be low-maintenance, Neal wandered over. He could see I wasn't comfortable and quietly moved about rolling blankets and adjusting pillows until I was completely blissed out.

Then he asked me the most amazing question: "Is there any way you could be more comfortable right now?"

I was practically dribbling at this point. I had never felt so safe or cared for in my life! A lightweight piece of muslin was draped over my eyes, and I'm pretty sure I fell asleep.

That weekend changed my life. I became more aware of my body and mindful of how I moved and what my body needed. There was a delightful deliberateness that contrasted sharply with my rushing, chaotic life. I had also learnt to listen. To listen to my body rather than override her messages.

On the last morning, we sat in a large circle. Everyone's faces were softer, their eyes glossy. Neal reminded us that this should be our normal state! I left with the message loud and clear that rest was my friend. My head felt clear, and my body was calm.

I now have a "rest nest" permanently set up at home. Blankets, bolsters and cushions are laid out in a Lisa shape, ready for me to flop into at any time. Because of the amount of support offered by a restorative pose, you rest even more deeply than sleep. One hour in my nest and I feel like I've had a full night's sleep!

I wrote this wee poem:

Come in said the blanket.
Lie down said the mat.
Let me hold you said the bolster.
Stretch and curl like a cat. 

Let me support you said the cushion.
Create a living nest.
Enjoy my softness, said the wrap.
Restorative yoga is the best!

I now know that rest is not a luxury or a sign of weakness. It's an essential component of a high-energy life. When you rest deeply, you allow your body and mind to repair, restore and rejuvenate. You create space for creativity and clarity.

Taking time to rest isn't being lazy - it's being smart. It's understanding that your energy is cyclical, not constant. We all need to fill our tanks.

Living well means making rest a priority. Building it into your life rather than waiting until you collapse. It means creating the conditions for deep rest rather than just scrolling on your phone while lying down (that's not rest, by the way).

What's your relationship with rest? Are you fighting it? 

Avoiding it? Or making friends with it?

It might be time to create your own rest nest!