On Choosing Rest

I didn’t always value rest. My yoga practice began as active, energizing movement - the kind that left me sweaty, feeling strong, and feeling like I accomplished something. Slowing down felt uncomfortable, even indulgent. For as long as I can remember, I measured my self-worth by productivity and perfection, by doing rather than simply being. 

Then the pandemic arrived, and at the same time, I became a mother. Stress and trauma I had quietly carried for years surfaced. Migraines appeared unexpectedly. Irritability flared. Long stretches passed without noticing hunger or fatigue. Even the smallest disruptions felt unmanageable. When I could no longer control my day as I once did, I sank into a freeze state, glued to my phone, absorbing the constant and devastating news. My body looked “at rest,” but my brain was in fight mode. I was unable to be fully present with my partner or my baby. My nervous system was overwhelmed and begging me to pay attention. 

Meet Kate - Yoga Instructor at Best Self

Yoga returned, but this time a gentler, kinder, practice - one that honored its true roots: to reduce suffering. The yoga mat became a safe place to slow down, notice, and trust that I was allowed to simply be. I learned to check in with my body and emotions without judgment, to soften, release, and allow myself a moment of rest even when the world seemed to demand action. With this intentional slowing, I began to feel like myself again, reconnecting with my true self, my family and community. This compassionate self-awareness also gave me the insight, and permission, to finally ask for help with what I later learned was postpartum depression. 

Trauma-informed yoga can cultivate the same compassionate self-awareness. Rest is not indulgence or distraction, it is a tool for resilience. Through mindful practice, we learn to recognize our limits, honor our needs, and give ourselves permission to pause. Choosing rest lets us restore, rebuild energy, and return to life fully present. And it can also help us in recognizing when we may need more support. 

Even brief moments of noticing - observing your breath, softening your shoulders, or checking in with your heart space - can be transformative. Rest is not giving up. It is self-care, compassion, and resilience. It allows us to show up fully for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities, again and again. 

This journey led me to my work now as a trauma-informed yoga instructor. I guide clients to cultivate the same awareness: to honor their limits, notice their bodies and emotions without judgment, and reclaim small moments of rest. Together, we explore how intentional slowing can restore energy, build resilience, and support healing, showing that rest is not just a pause from life - it is a vital tool for living it fully.

Perhaps take a moment now...

Close your eyes.

Breathe.

Notice where your body holds tension.

Ask yourself: what small act of rest could I give myself today?

Even a few mindful moments help you nurture your energy and practice choosing rest with intention.

To learn more about Yoga @ Best Self, visit our Yoga page here: https://www.bestselfcc.com/services/yoga