Leave space for peace - yoga

Peace counts.

This sounds like a given, but so many of us have a difficult relationship with rest.

Do you ever feel guilty for resting? If so, you are not alone. I felt the same way for a long time. I viewed resting as a reward for working hard and being productive, but when I finally got there and was supposed to rest, I felt like I was being lazy.

My perspective changed after practicing yoga for a while, and it was actually injuries and the pressure to slow down that led me to a consistent restorative yoga practice and a deep understanding of its physical and emotional benefits.

There are different types of rest that we need, physical rest is one of them. This is where restorative yoga can be invaluable.

I sometimes joke that restorative yoga can seem like an adult nap, as it may seem like there's a lot lying around, but on a deeper level, there's a lot going onThis practice is calming the body's "fight-flight" response and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for our body's "rest and digest" activities. While the body is supported by various supports, there is no need to “maintain” a posture, but you can completely let go, release muscle tension and relaxgiving the body the opportunity to truly rest. Restorative yoga does this in a way that resting on the sofa and watching a TV show cannot. The experience can be profound.

I have been teaching restorative yoga since 2012, but it wasn't until 2020 and during the Covid-19 pandemic that I noticed a particular pattern of people who had never tried yoga before and were drawn to practices like restorative yoga, yoga nidra and yin yoga. People were exhausted, shocked and trying to process what was happening in the world. For many, the pandemic forced them to slow down or stop for the first time in a long time.

Guiding people who had never heard of restorative yoga before - but were looking for it - through this practice was a huge inspiration for me in writing my book at the time.Rest + Calm: Gentle yoga and mindful practices to nourish and restore yourself. I wanted to share ways people can incorporate restorative yoga into their lives in a way that feels accessible and get them on the path to developing their own rest practice. Additionally, alongside restorative yoga, I've included a whole section of other tips, ranging from calming breathing exercises to guidance on setting boundaries, suggestions for conscious daily living, and much more.

Before 2020, almost constant running at full speed was the norm. If the last two years have taught us anything, it's that it doesn't have to be this way. So, are you making room for calm in your life?

Paula's new book "Rest + Calm: Gentle Yoga and Mindful Practices to Nurture and Restore Yourself" (Green Tree, Bloomsbury) will be published on March 3, 2022