Rest Is Not a Luxury

In a world that glorifies doing, how often do you allow yourself to simply be?

We live in a culture that tells us rest must be earned—something to squeeze in after we’ve done enough, achieved enough, or been productive enough. But true rest isn’t a reward. It’s a necessity. It is the foundation of our well-being, the soil from which our energy, clarity, and vitality grow.

As women, our bodies are deeply cyclical, constantly shifting and changing in rhythm with nature. Deep rest and relaxation are essential to nourish and balance the yin aspect of our body’s energy—what Taoist philosophy calls qi.

Yin represents the feminine, passive, and receptive energy. It is the soft exhale, the stillness between moments, the surrender into being. Yang, on the other hand, is the masculine, active, and dynamic force—our drive, our outward expression, our doing. To feel whole, vibrant, and balanced in life, we must honour both.

But in a society that celebrates constant productivity, how often do we truly tend to our yin energy? How often do we allow ourselves to receive deep rest—not just physical rest, but nervous system restoration, emotional replenishment, and the kind of slowing down that makes us feel deeply held?

This is what I call sacred self-care. Not the kind that has been reduced to a quick face mask or a rushed bubble bath (as lovely as those can be), but the kind that invites you back into yourself. The kind that nurtures your nervous system, reconnects you to your body, and brings you into the present moment.

Here are two simple yet powerful ways to engage in sacred self-care and cultivate deep rest:

1. Self-Massage with Sensate Focusing

This is about bringing full awareness into your body through touch—not with the goal of fixing or changing anything, but simply feeling.

• Choose an area to focus on—your hands, womb/belly, neck, or face.
• Use a nourishing oil with a scent that feels luxurious to you.
• Move slowly, allowing yourself to savor the sensations rather than rushing through.
• If you massage one hand or foot first, pause and notice the difference before moving to the other.

This kind of mindful touch can feel deeply grounding, reconnecting you to your own presence.

2. Orienting: Engaging Your Senses to Settle Your Nervous System

Orienting is the simple act of tuning into your environment through your five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. It gently signals to your nervous system that you are safe, allowing it to shift into a more restful, parasympathetic state.

Try this next time you’re out for a walk or simply sitting with a cup of tea:

• Look around—what colors and shapes do you see?
• Listen—what soft sounds can you hear?
• Breathe deeply—what subtle scents are in the air?
• Run your fingers over a textured surface—what does it feel like?

By anchoring into your senses, you bring your body out of the mind’s habitual busyness and into a state of calm presence.

Rest is not indulgence. It is not something to be earned. It is your birthright.

If this resonates with you, I’ve created a free evening self-care ritual to guide you into deep relaxation and reconnection. You can download it [here].

May you give yourself permission to slow down, to receive, and to remember that your rest is sacred.

Ready to experience a deeper connection to your body? Download my free 7-day guide, Grounded & Glowing to receive the power of somatic and sensuality practices. Click here to get it now!