Rest

Rest is a practice of letting peace touch our body, mind, and hearts.

How to Rest

The last step, “Rest”, could be expressed in many different ways. A traditional way to rest would be to simply lay down. Eyes can be closed or open. The body is soft and willing to let the Earth to hold it and release.

Pay attention to what rest looks like for your young ones. It can look differently for each child and from one day to the next. Sometimes my youngest needs a cuddle with a special lovey and blanket. Other times my eldest wishes to rest in a tree. Try different ways to rest. Maybe resting for your child is resting their mind more than their body. Perhaps a sense of rest is laughter or moving the body.

The important aspect of resting is discovering a sense of trust. This sense of trust allows for the body to just be there, at peace, without needing to change anything.

For me, rest feels more and more important to teach and practice with my children. We all live a busy lives and it has become necessary to incorporate or even schedule in restful moments so they can touch into a state of ease and let go of the societal messages that define an individual’s worth based on their production value.

I notice that my children’s ability to rest also relates to their ability to access a flexible mind and attitude. There are times when we encounter big feelings arising from held expectations. With their unique tools that help them to rest, they are more likely to meet life’s challenge with flexibility and ask for help.