The Cure-all that Most People Ignore

by Nicole Becker

The Powerful Healing Tool that gets Overlooked...

No matter the form of your suffering - physical injury, emotional or mental anguish, or spiritual questions, the first thing to try is REST.  

Over the years I've worked with thousands of people on a huge spectrum of issues. And the one thing that people consistently overlook is the therapeutic power of rest. 

I've had people come to me with frozen shoulders, sciatica, displaced vertebrae, torn knees, headaches, insomnia, depression, grief, you name it. By the time people are exploring Yoga as therapy, they've been to the doctor, the physical therapist, and the psychologist. None of whom suggested or discussed the possibility of just resting.  

Why not REST FIRST?
Few think to try rest first because we are convinced that we must DO SOMETHING in order to FIX the problem. Since rest is technically "DOING NOTHING",  we overlook or dismiss the idea entirely.

But my own personal experience with my body/life, and results with countless students is that slowing down, stopping, and resting is exactly the SOMETHING that is required.

REST AS FIRST AID
We all know the drill: Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate. That is certainly great in an acute first aid situation like a sprained ankle. But I'm talking about after that. How thoroughly are you going to rest that ankle before you get back up on it? How soon are you going to be trying to "get back to normal" - potentially sooner than you should because you have to?

I've helped several people heal from shoulder injuries just with the simple suggestion to put the arm in a sling for as much of the day as possible for 2-3 weeks.  The healing was profound and much more significant than the weeks and months of physical therapy they had already tried. 

DEEP REST for DEEP WELLNESS 
But beyond first aid, our issues are much more deeply ingrained. For mental, emotional and spiritual health, we need a whole spectrum of rest from regular sleep to regular breaks from work, and a lifestyle that supports deep, consistent, regularly scheduled, conscious and complete relaxation. That means yes to the nap, yes to the lounging around, yes to saying no to whatever is taxing you, yes to the vacation! 

And this of course means:
Yes to Yoga and Meditation!

All of our Ojas Yoga classes are designed to nourish, rather than deplete you. But the absolutely most restful is Restorative Yoga.  This class is the antidote to exhaustion, overwhelm, 2020 malaise and great for anyone who needs some extra TLC! Do you know someone like that? Bring a friend!  WEDNESDAYS 8-9 PM (recording sent to all registered).

And be sure to check out this new course!
Ojas is the Sanskrit word for the physicalized essence of vitality and resilience.
On October 23rd I will launch my new 8-week Course:
"Nourishing Ojas: Essential Practices for Vitality and Joy".
This self-paced journey is designed to empower you to reclaim, protect and refine your vitality. Click here to get on the list for updates!