Learning to rest

Namasté,

For nearly fifteen years, Restorative Yoga has held a central place in my life. I have practiced consistently throughout that time.

There have been periods of more intense practice and others that were lighter, like these past months. Twenty to thirty minutes a day. It was enough. I felt steady. Even after a bout of flu, I would naturally find my way back to my rhythm.

Then life subtly accelerated: a change of school for my children, more time spent driving, aging parents needing a different kind of presence. My body adapted. And fatigue returned, without warning.

If you have studied with me, you know what this means in Ayurvedic terms. More movement. More stimulation. Less grounding. An increase in Vata.

During these phases, practice is no longer simply a choice. It becomes an axis. What soothes Vata always carries the same qualities: stillness, consistency, warmth, support, depth of breath.

Certain relational dynamics can also move us away from our center without our realizing it. We adjust subtly. We shift slightly. Projective identification operates beneath awareness, and the body responds.

What I observe, in myself and in the people I work with, is that fatigue often appears when we stop listening to the nuances of our energy. On the surface, everything seems to function. Yet in the background, tension accumulates. The signs are subtle: lighter sleep, diffuse restlessness, less complete recovery, a quiet sense of being internally overwhelmed.

Recognizing them requires refinement. Sensing the precise moment when balance begins to shift, and choosing to return to the mat a little sooner.

Restorative Yoga offers a space to gently rebalance the nervous system.

Recently, I have been experimenting with a WHOOP band. What it does confirm is something experience had already taught me: years of practice shape our capacity to recover. When I slightly increase the time I spend on my mat, my sleep stabilizes quickly. My heart rate variability does as well.

I also notice that I now practice at new times, especially in the morning after my walk, as a conscious recalibration.

Perhaps this week you might simply ask yourself:

At what moment would I have needed to pause a little sooner?

For those who wish to explore these mechanisms more deeply, Restorative Yoga: The Foundations is the first step.

I am also grateful to share that the final cover of my upcoming book is now complete, with publication scheduled for June 2.

With gratitude.

Audrey Favreau