Learning to Rest, part two

So my last post was about resting…given the time between then and now, you’d think I’ve been kicking back with a cup of tea and an eye pillow (maybe not together), perfecting this resting? Well…I wish that were true. I am happy to report that I’m finding my summer rhythm – fewer classes, more pockets of time where I’m able to do other things besides yoga – time for me, time with those I care about, time just to explore and learn.

When I first started my yoga business, everything in my life was integrated – business, home, family… so I’d teach a class, stop by the store for groceries, throw in a load of laundry when I got home and scratch off more to-do’s for my business, etc. While that might seem efficient, for someone who tends to always be thinking, planning, analyzing – it was too much! I was ALWAYS on, always thinking…

So, I’m trying something new – I’m adding structure, you might say… I’m very fortunate that with my class schedule this summer, I’ll have more active “work” days and less active “me” days…I know that doesn’t work for everyone – but for me, it’s freeing — instead of having this load of to-do’s, should do’s, should have already done’s in my head – I address what I need to for today and move the rest to the appropriate day in the future…

In yoga, you might think of it as focusing on fewer poses – spending more time in those – enjoying them, being completely focused on the pose you’re in. Slowing down, breathing…knowing that the “easy”, more restorative poses – are not so easy – as our mind wanders and resists being still & quiet.

As I’m trying this new weekly routine…what’s happening is that I’m left with space, actual pockets of free time – which I don’t always know what to do with…but that’s a good thing…my hope is to spend the summer – enjoying those free spaces of time – and resisting filling them up with more activity…it’s not easy…but I really believe it’s in those spaces – those quiet, still times that we’re rejuvenated, strengthened, inspired.

What about you? Share with us your stories of rest…

Learning to Rest

After 3 days straight of 6 a.m. classes, I came away with two things: 1) I can only do wee hour morning yoga when it’s an awesome opportunity (which this was) and 2) that I needed a serious REST. Now I had two days in front of me with no commitments, no teaching, no household chores that couldn’t wait, and it was still very difficult to actually rest – and not jump to the next thing, the next project, the next anything.

I started to think about this in terms of a yoga class. We often approach the resting poses in yoga (childs pose, corpse pose, mountain pose, downward dog [sometimes]) as necessary transitions – little breaks we should/must take before we get to the meatier, more challenging poses…I see this in my students and admittedly, I see it in myself. Resting, calming poses have so many benefits for us – they refresh and restore us, they “fill up our cup” so that we’re in a better position for the working, standing, stretching we do on and off the yoga mat. These poses tend to be difficult for us, in a mental difficulty way.

In our world that seems to value busyness, output, results, activity – it’s hard for us to say “I had a really great rest today” or “I spent an hour being still and letting go…” – who dares to say these things? I do have a few brave students who come in to class jokingly asking that we hold relaxation pose or corpse pose the entire hour – of course, it’s said in jest, but not really…they are just admitting what we all really need – REST!

So where I am going with this? I’m posing a challenge to anyone stumbling across this post to move intentionally in the direction of REST. Here are a few ideas for you & me (as I’m right there with you):

• In your yoga class or practice, pay as much (maybe more) attention and focus on the resting, calming poses – childs pose, forward folds, relaxation time, mountain pose. Allow yourself to really savor resting, breathing.
• Start small and set aside (schedule in into your planner, pda if you have to) time to be still and quiet and away from the day’s demands. Start with 5 minutes and increase it as you’re able.
• Allow yourself to say no to good things to avoid cramming every minute of your day with activity. If this is not under your control during the workday, practice leaving time open for you on nights and weekends. Make it your mission to discover pockets of time that can be just yours.
• Find some activity that “fills your cup” and find time for it regularly- it might be a good book and cup of tea, an invigorating run, a daily walk outside, or an ever-changing yoga practice that matches what you need that moment. You decide what it is – and just make time for it…just like you would the important meeting at the office, the kids’ games & lessons, etc.
• Give yourself a break — we’re trying to undo years of programming here…where more is better and the answer to “How are you?” should be “We’re so BUSY” — so, allow yourself to take baby steps here…otherwise, resting and rejuvenating will just become one more checkbox in our Get It Done World…We definitely don’t want that….