Different ways to rest, and a herbaceous Spring Salad, thanks to Erica from Yogafolk

Ask yourself what you need to feel rested this holiday season

Artwork by Pamela Jaccarino via Pinterest

Hello there,

I hope you’re well. I’m sorry it’s been a little in between emails lately, although I’m sure you can relate to the busy feeling this time of year often brings.

On that note, I wanted to share the idea of resting in different ways. The festive season can be really fun and joyful, but it’s no secret that for many people it’s stressful due to various reasons and a bit of an overload for our nervous systems to take!

I recently read the book The Art of Rest, How to Find Respite in the Modern Age by Claudia Hammond.

I do love a book on rest, usually through practices like breathing, yoga nidra, restorative yoga and meditation. However, in this book the author writes about a study she and others conducted called the ‘rest test’ to study activities people find restful. Among meditation, walking and time alone the participants also cited watching TV, chatting and drinking socially as restful activities.

It made me think of intention again, and how it’s often our intention towards something that matters. And of course what we need in any given moment. Sometimes watching TV feels so indulgent and restful, other times we feel like we’re wasting precious time and would gain more from a yin yoga session. Sometimes catching up with friends feels nurturing and the only way to change the energy if you’ve been feeling stuck, and other times you wish you’d learn how to say no to social activities when you know you yearn for time alone.

What is rest for you? No guilt or feeling like you should do something when you’d rather be doing something else.

Sometimes rest is saying yes, sometimes rest is saying no. Sometimes rest is chatting and laughing and sometimes rest is savouring a delicious meal. Rest doesn’t have to be another thing on your to-do list.

For me, I’m practicing pausing, taking a moment to check in with myself and ask what I really need at that moment. This isn’t easy for me, and perhaps it’s the same for you. My default can often be resentment to too much activity, I’m and introvert and feel drained when I have too much stimulation. However I also know that sometimes the company of others in a happy social situation can immediately shift my negative energy and therefore my mindset.

What about you? Do you default to keeping busy and not allowing turning inward, quiet and solitude? Or the other way around?

A mellow yoga practice including gentle movement, yin postures and savasana is guaranteed to make me feel more rested and ready to give. Here’s a practice if this is what you need now.

Are you exhausted? Here’s a 30 minute yoga class for you

Let’s take this into account this holiday season! I hope you feel rested and calm, whatever your plans are.

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Herbaceous Spring Salad, from Yogafolk.

I’m so pleased to be sharing a little collaboration with a fellow yoga teacher who shares on Substack, Erica from Yogafolk. Don’t you just love the name Yogafolk?!

Have a read of her posts, I know they’ll resonate with you. This week we’ve swapped recipes, and here is a divine salad she’s kindly shared with us:

There’s absolutely nothing I like better than a salad. It is, without a doubt, my

primary food group. In the summer, a tomato salad with basil and balsamic is

enough to keep me happy throughout the entirety of August. Come fall, I massage

kale and toss with fall fruits, and goat cheese. In the winter I’ll roast squash and

sweet potatoes to mix with crisp greens.

And in the spring, herbs, and citrus take center stage. Below, an herbaceous spring

salad with grapefruit dressing that is my own take on a San Francisco cult classic.

You can substitute the herbs for whatever is growing fresh where you live.

Herbaceous Spring Salad Ingredients:

• crisp lettuce, radicchio, or kale

• dill

• parsley or cilantro

• mint

• basil

• cucumbers

• radish (I used watermelon)

• fennel

• avocado

• macadamia nuts

Herbaceous Spring Salad Process:

1. Tear lettuce, herbs, and leaves and add to a bowl. This can be made as a

single-serving, or large enough for a dinner party.

2. Cut the cucumbers, watermelon radish, fennel, and avocado. Toss with the

greens.

3. Chop the macadamia nuts and sprinkle on top.

4. Drizzle with grapefruit vinaigrette.

Grapefruit Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup grapefruit juice (from 1 ruby red grapefruit)

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1 heaping t. Dijon mustard

• 1 t. local honey

• 1 sprig of oregano, rosemary and/or thyme

• a pinch of salt and pepper

Grapefruit Vinaigrette Process:

1. Add all ingredients to a jar and shake, shake, shake. You can leave overnight

to allow the herbs to infuse into the dressing or serve right away if you prefer

a lighter flavor.

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Thanks for reading, I’m always grateful!

I’d love you to pass this on to a friend who might find this post interesting or helpful.

Love Sarah