Rest Series (2/8): Physical Rest

For the first three months, my body did not want to work out. I literally had zero desire to go lift weights. Something I have done for the last eight years of my life. But I had ZERO. I am not even joking when I say that. For three months, all I did was walk. My body physically wanted to rest and the only thing it wanted was to walk.

Physical rest also included getting adequate sleep. And a lot of it. Naps during the day and long hours in bed at night. I have always enjoyed sleep but this felt different. My body craved the sheets. Instead of that restless feeling in the morning after you have been in bed too long, does anyone else experience that? I instead kept feeling cozier and wanted to keep staying in bed.

So what is physical rest?

Physical rest helps to restore calm in the body.

Physical rest can be passive as well as active. Passive would be sleeping and napping while active can be deep breathing, taking a restorative yoga class, going and getting a massage and gentle stretching.

Essentially anything that helps you restore calm back to the physical body can help.

Taking things off your plate that is too physically demanding is also beneficial. Not going to your favorite HIIT class or hot yoga class can be a start. Decreasing demands on the body and moving to a place of physical rest can provide much-needed healing for the physical body.

Here are a few things to try if your body is needing physical rest:

-Deep breathing or any type of breathwork

-Naps, lots of naps!

-Going to bed 30 minutes to one hour before your usual bedtime.

-Gentle Stretching

-Restorative yoga

-Massage or facial

-Laying in the grass

-Walking

-Meditating

-Taking things off your schedule that are strenuous to the body. Think working out, lifting weights, your favorite HIIT class, or a big hike on the weekend.

To all those bodies that need physical rest let me know one thing that you incorporated and/or one thing you took out.

As a counselor in Utah, I can help guide you to feel comfortable taking the rest you need.

Learning to rest and trust yourself can be uncomfortable. It can be normal to have a judgemental part of us, a wonderful self-critic, telling us it is not okay. I am here to help guide you and figure out the rest that is best for you. Reach out today. As a therapist in Ogden, UT specializing in anxiety and stress, high-functioning depression and trauma and PTSD, I offer free 15-minute phone consultations to make sure we are a good fit. Text or call 385-240-0689.