Why Prioritize Rest?
By Jennifer Kelleher
In last week’s column, we learned a little about the Savasana (the essential final resting pose in yoga that is included in every yoga sequence), and I invited you to start getting curious about your relationship to and beliefs about rest.
Often people see rest as secondary, or unproductive. Yet, it is in true, deep rest that our energies are reorganized and replenished, giving our bodies and brains what they need to function optimally. When we prioritize rest, we feel better, think more clearly, make more aligned decisions, and can be more productive.
One example of the importance of rest can be seen in bodybuilders. Bodybuilders know that muscles grow on rest days, which is why they frequently focus on one body part per day throughout a week. During the workout, they create microscopic tears in their muscle tissues. In the days that follow, when that muscle is resting and refueling, it heals and grows back stronger, giving them more capacity for future workouts.
To the brain, rest is as essential for survival as food and water. A lack of quality sleep makes it difficult to create new memories, focus, and respond. When we give ourselves proper rest, we give our brain the opportunity to clean itself, sweeping out toxins that build up during our waking hours. Rest keeps our minds young and sharp.
The different systems of the body are also swept clean during rest. There is not one bodily tissue that is not positively affected by the right amount of deep rest. Meaningful rest is the space in which our human system can heal and find its natural homeostasis. Because the body is not expending energy interacting with the outer world during rest (for example, digesting food or performing tasks), it can fully focus on rebalancing and restoring itself.
The world we live in today is vastly different from the world that existed even just a few decades ago. Society and technology have progressed so quickly, and this can be stressful for our biologies as they do their best to figure out how to catch up and survive in this new and overstimulated society. From working to break down new chemicals in our food, water, and air, to trying to digest the crazy amount of information poured into us through our devices, the body and brain have a lot to keep up with.
As I did in last week’s column, I invite you to prioritize rest this month. If possible, go to sleep and wake up around the same time each day. Bookend your days with nourishing morning and evening routines– this will help you stay on track. Take moments throughout your day to step back and pause. A few minutes of deep breathing, a calm walk around the block, a dip in the ocean, or lying on your back in Savasana are all beautiful options to replenish your mind and body during a busy day. Take conscious breaks from social media. These are just some examples of how to weave extra rest into your life. I encourage you to think about it– what are some things that leave you feeling truly rested? How can you bring more of them into your life this month?
If you are looking for some guidance, I invite you to join us at Ocean Bliss Yoga Studio. We offer a variety of yoga and Pilates classes throughout the week. This month, we have a few special opportunities for deep, rejuvenating rest: Restorative Yoga & Essential Oils with Helen Kilgallen on August 14, Cleansing Salt Sound Bath with me on August 21, and Transformational Breath with Christine Walker on August 28. Sign up for classes and workshops at oceanblissyoga.net. Text or call me with any questions at 917-318-1168.
