The Importance of Rest

As humans living in the US, we often focus on hard work.  And there is nothing wrong with this- I love our cultural belief that with hard work we can achieve anything. However, I also believe that without balancing our hard work with two other very important elements- play and rest- we will suffer.

The practice of yoga is a cultivation of awareness, starting with an awareness of our body, mind and soul.  We bring dedication and willingness to work hard to our mats.  But do we also bring our willingness to rest when our bodies, minds or souls are asking for it? If you are a regular attendee of my yoga classes you will often hear me say that resting is just as important as hard work.  The amount that we work, rest and play-on and off of our mats-are directly related to one another.  Without enough rest, we cannot be at our best when we are working and playing.

As we become more aware of what we may need at any given moment- work, rest, play or a combination of all three- the next step is a willingness to honor that request.  It may not always be easy to find balance but through awareness of ourselves we will know exactly what we need.

What do you need- work, rest or play?  All three are available this and every Friday from 2-3pm at Towson Yoga Works.