On the run up to Christmas I could feel the Covid anxiety building yet again. Should I be teaching in person still, was I going to make it home for Christmas…..and what on earth would happen in January?! Now that I am a step mum Christmas isn’t the relaxing time it used to be either, come the first week of January my nervous system felt haywire. I was exhausted.

I decided the best thing for me was to sign up for a course in Restorative Yoga/ Rest with the wonderful teacher Judith Hanson Lasater. This involved putting myself in a different position for Savasana/ Rest each day, for 20 minutes over 14 days. Yoga blankets, bolsters, cushions and an eye pillow were required.

The props help the body to feel held and the blankets not only add weight but keep you snuggly warm. Aside from my bolster, and sandbag, my yoga blankets are my most favourite yoga purchase ever. It is definitely worth investing in a big heavy cotton one (or 3) from Yogamatters. I used to use my soft fleecy blankets I had on my bed but they just don’t add the weight or coverage, that really helps you release.

Of course there were days when my mind was telling me I am too busy to stop for 20 minutes! I stuck with it though, as after the first week I could already start to notice the difference. Taking a “power nap”/ proper rest for 20 minutes in the afternoon helped me to have energy to go out to teach (or be fully present for my husband) in the evenings. I wasn’t needing to collapse into bed by 9pm, and then wake way to early for my liking in Winter.

My nervous system feels balanced, the eczema on my hands has calmed down, I don’t have that low level exhaustion buzzing in the background any more. I have more energy to want to go out to exercise and my will power feels stronger over cutting down on my afternoon sugar cravings. My inspiration is returning and where as before my mind felt numb I am now able to come up with ideas for the year ahead. To be honest I feel like myself again!

I am a big fan of Yoga Nidra, the guided relaxation/ meditation, but there is something potent about just being still in silence for 20 minutes, with all the props for support. Judith Hanson Lasater says that “Savasana teaches the nervous system what receptivity to life is truly about”. She speaks about “receiving” the pose rather than “doing” it.

I found that when I start my mind gets busy, but after a while of just laying there, allowing that all to wash over me, eventually it gives up trying to distract me and I drift off. I am probably only actually asleep for about 5-10 minutes after all that winding down but then I always seems to wake up just as the timer is about to go off too. It’s like my body knows when is enough. I find this also with acupuncture sessions, and I am now wondering if part of why I like that so much is that I am literally pinned to the bed and have no other option but to be still and surrender.

Inspired by the power of this practice and taking just 20 minutes in the day to properly rest I am now working on creating an on demand course for you to take time in your day to pause too. Watch this space.