Sundays and Savasana

Both God and yoga respect the importance of mindful rest. By mindful rest, I mean the kind that allows you to pause, reflect, and refresh (as opposed to those 30 minutes of "rest" we parents claim while our toddlers are napping). When I didn't post yesterday (Sunday), it was because I'm trying to set a strong example for my kiddos in spending as little time as possible in front of a computer on a Sunday. There are times when it will be inevitable, but for the most part, Sundays are work-free.

It wasn't always this way in our home. Admittedly, I struggled to find a new balance when I became a parent. I tried to keep my full-time job and my part-time job while learning to be a mom, working from home on nights and weekends to get ahead at the office the next week, and assuring myself that my hard work was the best way to support my family. I wasn't making time for yoga the way I used to, and we hadn't welcomed faith into our family dynamic yet. I had completely lost control of my time management and my priorities, but getting so much done and being so focused on work gave the facade of high achievement. Have you ever experienced that feeling of utter exhaustion from over-working yourself, yet nothing has gotten satisfactorily done? And no matter how hard you work all day, you feel like the most important things still didn't get adequate attention? I had given in to the anxious toil warned of in Psalms 127:2, "In vain you rise up early and stay up late, eating the bread of toil--for He provides for His beloved ones even in their sleep." Yep, that was totally me. I woke early, worked all day and night, and ate the bread of that toil, which was not a very pleasant loaf to swallow. And I was serving that same unpleasant loaf to my family. All the while, I was overlooking what God had graciously placed right in front of me. I wasn't present for my little baby or my partner, and turning more time to my family is what started bringing balance back to my life; welcoming God into my life is what solidified that balance. Part of that was learning to not work every day of the week. God and yoga are both correct to encourage mindful rest because we need it in order to achieve balance in our lives and be our best selves.

It can take time and effort to train ourselves out of overworking and into accepting rest as part of a greater productive process. Thankfully, Scripture is here to remind us to take this time: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God" (Exodus 20:8-10). It's not an invitation to laziness--There are six days of work before the day of rest. God sets the example for us in Genesis 2:2-3, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

Yoga's equivalent to resting on the Sabbath can be found in Savasana (AKA Shavasana or "corpse pose"). This is a beginner-level pose in which the yogi lays on their back in a mindful rest. Just lay on your back and don't move--Sounds easy, right? Not so much. Give it a try and see what happens to your mind. When you force your body to stay still, does your mind start to race? If so, it might be a signal to check on your life's balance. But if you're able to restfully scan your body in Savasana without getting distracted by a to-do list, you can balance your body systems, establish body awareness, promote relaxation, and decrease stress and anxiety. All those benefits from mindful relaxation!

On this Monday evening following a full day of work, I'm grateful for having taken Sunday to rest, spend time with my family, and reflect on God's blessings. I'm no longer the over-worked and under-attentive parent, spouse, and coworker I used to be, and finding that balance has made me stronger in each of those roles. I can now confidently say that my priorities are faith, family, and health, and I can meditate in Savasana with a clear mind. I'm thankful to God for having gently shown me the error of my previous ways, and grateful to my family for standing with me as I learned to be better. I pray that you all find a happy, healthy balance in your lives as well!

Namaste and Blessings,

Tara