We live in a world that often glorifies hustle and relentless work. But what if I told you that slowing down, taking a step back, and embracing true rest could be the secret to more profound achievements? My journey discovering the transformative power of rest began in the most unexpected of ways.
Hitting the Wall: My Wake-Up Call
It was the end of last year. The thrill of enrolling in an Executive MBA program was still fresh, and I was just beginning to settle into a demanding leadership position at work. Day in and day out, I found myself juggling countless responsibilities. As someone who's always pushed beyond limits, I thought I could manage it all. But, my body had a different story to tell.
A vanished period, inflamed gums, recurrent infections, and emotional overwhelm became my reality. I was literally and metaphorically bleeding. The physical manifestations of my relentless push were hard to ignore.
I had to do something! I decided to investigate my toolbox of all the learnings that I collected over the last 20 years in the pursuit of health and wellness – life coaching, energy healing, diet, exercise, meditation… I was already meditating daily, sticking to my carnivore diet, and walking. As I went inside seeking answers, my intuition told me – it was time to draw on the tools of Yin Yoga, intentional boredom, and daily Reiki. I intuitively knew that the medicine for the side effects of all the doing (excessive masculine energy) was in the non-doing (honoring the feminine). Both Yin Yoga and Reiki are all about – allowing and being, not doing.
The Gentle Embrace of Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a unique style of yoga that emphasizes longer-held, passive postures targeting the body's deeper connective tissues, especially around the joints. Unlike more active yoga styles, Yin focuses on relaxation, surrender, and deep tissue stretching, often using props like bolsters and blocks for support. The poses are held anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes, allowing practitioners to explore the edges of their flexibility while cultivating mindfulness and inner stillness. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophies and Taoist principles, Yin Yoga balances internal energies, fostering both physical and mental harmony.
Yin Yoga wasn't just another exercise form for me. Each pose became a lesson in patience, endurance, and surrender. It was about relinquishing control and letting the body dictate its pace. It was exactly what I needed. Every moment of every day had become scheduled and controlled, in order for me to get everything done. My time on the mat in the evenings became about releasing control and simply allowing. Allowing my body to sink deeper and deeper into each pose. The less I tried, the more stress I released.
Unlike the dynamic, flowy sequences in other forms of yoga, Yin is static and introspective. Each pose, held for extended durations, targets the connective tissues, facilitating better mobility and flexibility.
A deeper look into Yin Yoga reveals its holistic benefits. Not only does it enhance flexibility but, as one study elucidates, it can be a potent tool against anxiety and stress. Another research found that its emphasis on mindfulness and breath control significantly aids in emotional regulation.
Every night, lying on my mat, I'd visualize channeling all my stress into the nurturing earth beneath me. This act of grounding, holding poses, and concentrating on my breath created a sacred space of tranquility. As the days turned into weeks, I noticed a transformative calm enveloping me. No, the external challenges hadn’t vanished, but my internal landscape was shifting.
Yin Yoga, with its foundational philosophies rooted in balancing contrasting energies, is particularly resonant for those embodying the Empress Archetype. Empresses, as leaders and high performers, often navigate the world wielding a dynamic blend of both masculine (Yang) and feminine (Yin) energies. In the demands of modern leadership, it's common for the aggressive, decisive, and goal-oriented masculine energies to overshadow the nurturing, intuitive, and receptive feminine aspects. Yin Yoga, by its very nature, encourages a reconnection with these feminine energies, offering a sanctuary to rebalance and realign. By embracing the passivity and introspection of Yin practices, those aligning with the Empress Archetype can nurture their innate capacities for empathy, intuition, and holistic understanding, strengthening their leadership and enhancing their performance in a way that is both powerful and harmoniously balanced.
Your First Step into Yin: While starting with foundational poses is great, understanding the philosophy behind Yin can amplify its benefits. Delve into its origins, and its foundational texts, and perhaps even listen to podcasts or talks by Yin Yoga experts. Immersing oneself in philosophy can provide deeper insights during practice, guiding you towards a more holistic experience that goes beyond the physical and taps into the profound interplay of energies within.
Intentional Boredom: The Gift of Nothingness
The constant stimulation and input had left me burnt out. So, the next thing I decided to do was to take periodic 'boredom breaks.' This was not easy, but these breaks, devoid of any activity, gave my mind the space it craved. One day, I set an experiment for myself: An hour of intentional boredom. The first 25 minutes were agony as my thoughts raced. And then I ended up falling asleep because that’s how exhausted I was. The second time I tried it, it started the same way, the first 25 minutes or so was full of racing thoughts. But then, magic happened. The floodgates of creativity burst open. New ideas flowed, solutions to old problems appeared, and a newfound clarity emerged. This experiment was inspired by Hans Wilhelm's enlightening Ted Talk on boredom, which opened my eyes to the profound power of doing "nothing."
The Science: A study in the journal Psychological Science revealed that boredom can foster creativity because a wandering mind can lead to out-of-the-box thinking. Other research indicates that allowing oneself to be bored, even for short durations, can significantly improve mental well-being.
How to Begin: Dedicate 10-15 minutes a day to do...nothing. It's harder than it sounds! No screens, no reading, just sitting and letting your mind wander.
Intentional boredom takes an amount of self-discipline and willpower that you may or may not have when experiencing true burnout. I’ve noticed that it is a profound tool to use when I am not necessarily at the point of total exhaustion, but when I’ve hit a wall with solving problems or when I feel like I need a break from efforting. There are times when I am not able to do it. In those times, I choose my next tool. Reiki-infused tea rituals.
A Cup of Healing: The Reiki-Infused Experience
After becoming a Reiki Master in 2021, I began to experientially understand that Reiki and other energy healing techniques are not bound by time and space. What I mean by that is, I don’t need to be in the same room or to be touching someone to send them Reiki. I also learned firsthand that Reiki could be sent in advance! This may sound crazy, but let us say, I have an event coming up that I’m nervous or anxious about. Reiki can be sent beforehand to the event or situation. This may be difficult to wrap your head around, but it works.
As I began to grasp these concepts, I would do experiments. One of them was to channel Reiki into crystals and then grab the crystal whenever I thought I could use some Reiki. As a practitioner, I have become sensitive to the subtle feeling that my body experiences when Reiki is flowing. When I pick up my pre-Reiki’d crystal, I would instantly feel the subtle tingling vibration turn on in my hand and then soon through different parts of my body – without going through the series of steps to intentionally “turn it on”.
My next idea was to channel Reiki into crystals and place the crystals into the same container as my dried tea leaves. Then I’d make cups of tea with it and sure enough… I’d feel my body humming with Reiki energy as I drank my tea! Then I began directly channeling Reiki into the dry tea with the intention that each time I made a cup of that tea, I would receive Reiki.
Now, let’s get back to last year’s burnout experience. Amidst this journey, my Reiki-infused teas became a cherished ritual. Imagine, each sip not just offering the warmth of tea but also channeling healing Reiki energy. By now, I was holding a Reiki crystal, drinking my tea AND as a wonderful touch, listening to music that I had channeled Reiki energy into and prerecorded. I had created an entire relaxation ritual. This tea time wasn't just about quenching thirst or taking a break; it was a holistic experience. The Reiki, the soothing music, the grounding crystal – all combined to remind me of a simple truth: Rest isn’t just a pause; it’s a powerful act of rejuvenation.
The Science:
Reiki, a Japanese energy healing technique, has been linked to reducing pain, anxiety, and fatigue. When paired with the known benefits of tea, such as its antioxidants and calming properties, the combination provides a holistic approach to relaxation6.
How to Begin:
The beauty of this is that you can start today. You can explore a Reiki Tea Ritual that combines the healing power of Reiki energy, the soothing properties of tea, and the amplifying energy of clear quartz crystal. If you're keen on diving deeper, there are ways to elevate the experience further. However, the basic ritual, coupled with Reiki-infused music, can be a game-changer. Remember, this ritual is as much about intention as it is about the act.
Bringing it All Together
Today, I no longer see rest as a sign of laziness or wasted time. Instead, I see it as a powerful tool that fuels innovation and productivity. I've also realized that rest is multifaceted - from Yin Yoga to undistracted walks, from Reiki healing sessions to the profound act of being bored.
For those who feel trapped in the relentless cycles of modern life, remember this: In our quest for achievement, sometimes the best thing we can do is to slow down, breathe, and let the magic of rest take over.
Rest isn’t just a break from our busy routines; it’s the foundation of true productivity and well-being. My journey, laden with challenges and revelations, led me to appreciate the intricate balance between doing and being.
The restorative power of Yin Yoga, the latent potential in boredom, and the calming embrace of Reiki-infused teas all weave together to form a tapestry of holistic wellness. These aren’t just practices; they are invitations—invitations to transform, heal, and thrive.
Your Next Steps
If my journey resonated with you, I invite you to explore these practices. To dive deeper, to ask questions, to share your experiences. Join our growing community of individuals who've chosen to redefine success, and who've embraced the restful path to personal growth and wellness.
Engage with us, and together, let's champion a movement where rest isn't an afterthought but a cherished pursuit.
Resources for further reading:
- On Yin Yoga:
- Birch, J. (2011). The Meaning of Hatha in Early Yoga. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 131(4), 527-554.
- Sarah Powers’ book "Insight Yoga" delves deep into the integration of Yoga, Buddhism, Taoism, and Transpersonal Psychology.
- Benefits of Boredom:
- Eastwood, J. D., Frischen, A., Fenske, M. J., & Smilek, D. (2012). The unengaged mind: Defining boredom in terms of attention. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(5), 482-495.
- Mann, S., & Cadman, R. (2014). Does being bored make us more creative? Creativity Research Journal, 26(2), 165-173.
- Reiki and its effects:
- VanderVaart, S., Gijsen, V. M., de Wildt, S. N., & Koren, G. (2009). A systematic review of the therapeutic effects of Reiki. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(11), 1157-1169.
- Lee, M. S., Pittler, M. H., & Ernst, E. (2008). Effects of reiki in clinical practice: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 62(6), 947-954.
- Health benefits of tea:
- Khan, N., & Mukhtar, H. (2013). Tea and health: studies in humans. Current pharmaceutical design, 19(34), 6141-6147.
- Higdon, J. V., & Frei, B. (2003). Tea catechins and polyphenols: health effects, metabolism, and antioxidant functions. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 43(1), 89-143.