Finding home that was inside me all along. I’m resting twenty minutes a day and that is okay. Twenty minutes of rest can change the nervous system from uptight to calm, change my reactions to emotions and provide a more restful sleep at night.
When do I have twenty minutes to do nothing? Twenty minutes feels like forever. What other activities in my day take 20 minutes? Are those activities an obligation, routine, watching TV, scrolling, shopping online or other time filler?
The past two years, I have studied under Lasater Yoga and practiced Restorative Yoga (RY). Before my studies, this style of yoga that was not interesting to me because laying around on props doing nothing was not moving me forward, or so it seemed. I was proud of the fact that my days were very active and went nonstop with no time for resting or napping. Why did I give it a try? In my yoga community, other teachers were sharing about how much they loved RY. Fear of missing out, I did a search to find out more. I love to learn new things especially in yoga, so I checked it out. Signed up and was surprisingly hooked from the beginning. The first thing that I took to heart was when Judith Hanson Lasater said, “Restorative Yoga is about opening, not stretching”.
My first experience of taking a 20 minute resting pose, such as Savasana, was insightful. I came out of it feeling refreshed. There was fidgeting at first, then once I settled there was a feeling of small muscles letting go and relaxing. About 15 minutes into it, I was no longer aware of anything and just at the cusp of a dream state for the final 5 minutes. The timer went off and I lifted myself out very slowly and thought what a beautiful gift. Take a pause for 20 minutes to come out feeling refreshed and ready for the rest of my day, was significant to me. It was very different than a nap which can go on too long and then I come out feeling sluggish.
I gave RY a real test by practicing 20 minutes a day for 2 weeks. This was transformative which is not an exaggeration. I noticed that my reactions to emotions were mellowed, my tolerance level grew and my relationships improved. Being aware of these changes, I realized, it is the calming effects of RY off the mat that is making the difference. I was no longer in a constant state of agitation, rushing or trying to be in control. It is a process and takes time but small changes in the beginning made me want more of it.
For me, it is a deep rest but I am still aware. I was conscious of random thoughts until the last five minutes and it was an escape to nothingness. My body has small sensations as it relaxes and heals. Subtle changes I noticed off the mat were my reactions to an emotion or trigger. An example is standing in line which normally sets my mind spinning with agitation, now I observe that I have to pause and it is okay.
For athletes, RY can help to unwind and release tension in the muscles. One the benefits of doing RY is better sleep at night. Scheduling a rest day is common but tends to be elusive in that the yard needs to be mowed, a project needs extra work, errands to run and the list goes on. Rest day can end up being a full day of busyness without a plan. Restorative Yoga on a rest day can provide healing and better recovery.
For writers, some of the best ideas come after a resting period. Whether that is RY, meditation, time off by taking a playdate or a walk in nature. A gift to yourself, to your creativity and to the world. Taking time to reset, rest and balance. The best writing comes from your most authentic self and one way to get inside to that place is with rest. A writer’s day can be full of tasks to read, learn, research and create. It is okay to take a break smell the flowers, recharge and relax.
I love to learn about the different styles/types of yoga. There are aspects to benefit from each one. Life is a journey and yoga is one of the many tools to use in growing, exploring and learning.
How To:
Restorative Yoga in the simplest form is in the posture of Savasana. Lie on your back with a pillow for head and neck support if that feels most comfortable. Legs extend out or have a pillow under the knees. Set a timer with a pleasant alarm sound at the end. Be still, quiet, use a blanket to stay warm and cover the eyes (soft cloth recommended with no weight) to block the light. Then do nothing for twenty minutes.
If you give Restorative Yoga a try, look at your face in the mirror, before RY and after. Noticeably relaxed?
A summary is to create a balance by weaving rest and activity.
Journaling Prompt:
Where is there time for a pause in my day?
Love it - will use it when I am blocked or just tensed ...
Beautiful. I grabbed a pen and wrote down Savasana. Sounds amazing