Rest Your Body
A practice from Move, Rest, Recover
This audio practice + excerpts from Move, Rest, Recover are free for everyone to use — I hope they serve you well.
Modern life results in an array of physical imbalances, and recovery helps us to neutralize our biomechanics (the way all your parts, including your bones, connective tissue, and muscles, are engineered to work together). You’ve probably noticed that even after you push back from your desk, put your toddler to bed, or finish your run, physical stress and tension and can linger long after your work is done. That’s because rest isn’t automatic; it’s not a given or default that we can count on to restore us when the rare free moment presents itself.
Like mental rest, physical relaxation is a skill that needs to be activated and strengthened, just like a muscle.
Restorative yoga is a practical, accessible physical reset. Bear in mind that when it comes to recovery, not all yoga is created equal. While all valuable in different ways, many styles of modern yoga are physically demanding and can be overly aggressive for a frazzled, overstimulated mind, and a fatigued, imbalanced body. While you might think that a power yoga class is the perfect way to wind down a frenetic week, ask yourself, Is this just another means to push myself? The last thing you need is another effort to power through. Instead, consider using yoga as a tool to retreat from mental and physical demands so that you can effectively recharge.
Listen in or use the below page from my new book Move, Rest, Recover (which is, btw, full of practical, accessible practices like this) to activate recovery in the moments when you need rest the most.
