You know how you have those incidents that stick in your mind long after they’ve occurred? One of my favorite student stories about the importance of relaxation is one that has stuck in my mind for almost a decade now. Allow me to share…
A number of years ago I had a student who was a regular in my Vinyasa classes. She was nearing retirement but was not sure she was ready for it–because she loved her job, but also because she didn’t know what she’d do with herself if she retired. She was super-active, in great shape, and always up for fun. She rarely slowed down. Quite frankly, she could run circles around me! She loved the intensity and challenge of my Vinyasa classes, and was always resolute in making up any classes she had to miss.
One week when she had to miss her Vinyasa class, the only other class available for a make-up was Yin. My student complained that she didn’t want to try Yin because she thought it would be too boring for her. Being a strong believer in finding balance, my intuition told me to gently push her to give it a try anyway. Being the flexible person she is, she agreed. When she showed up for Yin that week, I watched her for any signs about how she might be reacting to the slow, meditative pace. She didn’t seem restless or bored, which I took as a good sign. When class was over I waited, a bit nervously, to see if she’d say anything to me. She walked up to me with a smile on her face and said, “That’s exactly what I needed.”
The takeaway I want to leave you with at the end of this story? Relaxation is vital for your stress levels, for your health, for your well-being–whether it is easy for you to relax or not. If you are not making enough time for relaxation in your week, examine the reasons why, and then actually schedule it in on your calendar. If you have a hard time giving yourself permission to relax, remember that no one else will. You deserve it, and you need it!
If you are ready to incorporate more relaxation into your life but need a little support:
- Enroll in my upcoming ‘Yoga Chill’ Online course where you’ll get weekly support for your at-home yoga practice and help for carving out some R+R time.
- Schedule a Private Yoga session with me to learn calming yoga, meditation and breathwork techniques to help you relieve stress.
- Book a Personal Retreat or Mini Wellness Retreat at The Yoga Room where you can shut out the outside world and make self-care a priority.
- Take my self-paced Self-Care MasterClass where I guide you on a journey to examine the obstacles that stand in the way of you taking better care of yourself and teach you actionable strategies for positive and sustainable change. ($19 for a limited time.)
What If This Is What It’s All About?