Reset your mind and body

   The idea of a reset is often desired, yet a seldom experienced or practiced occurance. We reset our devices, and maintain our vehicles to ensure long lasting high quality performance. Developing a practice for our mind and body to have a reset is something I have found beneficial in so many ways. Returning to stillness and homeostasis, making space for healing and a restorative process for our over worked mind and body. Doing this once a week has been one of my favorite routines that I find essential for progress.

   How to implement this practice 

   Making this a weekly routine starts with setting aside time for this, aka making time for this. I think for most people Sunday night seems to be a great way to introduce this. Starting with maybe 1-2 hours although longer times are better if you are able to. At first it will be difficult to unwind, but practice is the journey to rest. Ideally making this a full day practice of rest as well as activity that promotes rewiring your thoughts.

   The mind, rest

   The goal is to clear all distractions, think of all your thoughts and concerns written down on a chalkboard and picture yourself erasing it. Find a spot, shut off your phone and get comfortable with the feeling of 'ah,'. Embrace the sense of stillness and rest. The only thing you have to do is breath. Notice just that, every inhale you feel new life being brought in. Every exhale is a detoxification and knowing your body is capable of healing. Then start to bring your attention to the space between each breath, which is a place of complete stillness. This is rest, and I can assure you that it is a practice that gets more rewarding as you do it. Being in a good spot is very helpful for this, and could be going to your back yard, local park, or just a favorite chair.

   The most common obstacle and reason we don't just already do this is that we cant seem to shut off our mind. This is why I say learning to rest is a practice, and it takes time. Resting is a discipline, and discipline is the path to freedom. It's almost funny that we can still be on the first breath, even the inhale and already our mind is attatched to a thought of worry. Just notice thoughts like clouds, just there. You observe them. Something I used when starting was viewing each thought like a train passing, and it got to notice I can make a choice to be in stillness or chase this train, jump on and see where it goes. The first option is my goal, just let it go by with the thought of I am not leaving this place of rest, while feeling the space between breath as a refuge.

  The Body, active rest

   Active rest is movement that is enjoyable and for most that is not strenuous. This could be a very wide range of things to each person. Taking a walk, doing yoga, hitting golf balls, playing with a pet, or even dancing for some. Think of it as personal recess time. Going to a play ground every once in awhile and getting on a swing is highly recommended. Feeling movement and enjoying it, being just in that moment of simple play both the mind and body are rested and connected. By practice we make our body more familiar with the sense of ease we can have in movement. Our mind is present in the activity and not in yesterday or tomorrow. This enhances our ability to be in the present moment and to savor the sense of rest as well as play.

   Rest as a discipline 

    These are two words you don't see together often , however you most likely don't see yourself getting moments of play and simplicity of watching clouds on a regular basis either. Start by making this a once a week routine, and eventually it will be part of your daily routine, and as you practice you will find rest in strenuous exercise because you have a reference of ease to connect with. You will find your mind is no longer hopping all the trains of thought that lead to worry and stress wasting time and taxing your energy.

      Our actions are a practice of behavior and what is practiced becomes our first instinct, or nature. The body at rest will have a better immune system and ability to be called apon for high performance as a result. The mind will know a place of stillness and refuge is available at any moment. What we practice we will eventually master. We decide what it is, or we don't pay attention and it goes on with no wise investment.