How Can Deep Rest Nurture Your Nervous System and Enhance Emotional and Physical Wellbeing?

Wellbeing Tips to Change Your Habits — and Your Life

Rest is a fundamental component of wellbeing, necessary for physical, mental, and emotional health. The insights from various experts and practices highlight the critical role of rest in our lives.

The Importance of Rest

Philosophical and Psychological Perspectives

1. Rubin Naiman, PhD:

   • Buddhist Philosophy: Links excessive activation without proper balance to depression.

   • Instinctive Nature: Lack of rest leads us away from our instinctual and wilder nature.

2. Clarissa Pinkola Estés:

   • Psychic Slumber: Describes the state of neglecting deep rest as "female psychic slumber," which affects our mental and emotional health.

3. David Whyte (from "Consolations"):

   • Five States of Rest:

     1. Stopping: Letting go of ongoing activities or ways of being.

     2. Coming Home: Returning to an unforced, natural state.

     3. Healing and Self-Forgiveness: Experiencing a sense of arrival and acceptance.

     4. Give and Take: Enjoying the balance of blessing and being blessed.

     5. Readiness and Presence: Feeling ready and present, fully engaged with the world.

Biological Rhythms

• Nathaniel Kleitman’s BRAC (Basic Rest-Activity Cycle):

  • 90-Minute Cycles: Both sleep and wakefulness follow this cycle, with periods of high and low brain wave activity.

  • Sleep Cycle: Transitions from light sleep to deeper sleep stages.

  • Wake Cycle: Begins with high brain wave activity, slowing down towards the end, necessitating a break.

Practical Applications

1. Yoga - Savasana:

   • Essentials: Meditation audio, a listening device, and a comfortable resting place.

   • Accessibility: Can be practiced in any quiet space without expensive props.

2. Daily Practices for Rest:

   • Rest Meditation: Regular practice of meditation focused on rest.

   • Supportive Practices:

     • Freewriting in a journal to reflect and process thoughts.

     • Becoming a witness to your life, enhancing peace of mind and intuition.

     • Practicing discernment by knowing and asserting your "yes" and "no."

Crafting a Well-Rested Lifestyle

• Balance: Integrate both being (resting and releasing) and becoming (engaging and refreshing).

• Permission to Rest: Recognize and honour the necessity of rest in your daily routine.

• Healing Ingredient: Acknowledge rest as a critical component of all healing approaches.

By understanding and incorporating these perspectives and practices, you can create a lifestyle that honours and integrates deep rest, leading to enhanced overall wellbeing.

Creating a healthy and nurturing environment for our nervous system is essential for our overall well-being. Our nervous system, a complex network of neurons and cells, plays a crucial role in guiding our thoughts, movements, and sensations. In today’s fast-paced world, the stress of daily life can easily overwhelm this vital system, leading to various health issues. By caring for our nervous system, we can achieve deep healing benefits and foster a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Benefits of a Nurtured Nervous System

Physical Health

A well-nurtured nervous system enhances the body’s resilience and functionality:

• Reduced Stress and Inflammation: Practices like mindfulness, yoga, and spending time in nature can significantly reduce stress and inflammation.

• Lower Blood Pressure: These practices help in calming the nervous system, which can lead to lower blood pressure.

• Improved Digestion: A calm nervous system supports better digestive health.

• Stronger Immune System: Reduced stress and inflammation contribute to a more robust immune response.

Practices to Nurture the Nervous System

Mindfulness and Meditation

• Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness helps in grounding and calming the mind, reducing the overall stress on the nervous system.

• Meditation: Regular meditation can help in achieving a state of deep relaxation, which is beneficial for nervous system health.

Yoga

• Physical Postures: Engaging in yoga postures helps in releasing tension and promoting relaxation.

• Breathing Exercises: Breathing exercises in yoga can significantly reduce stress levels and support nervous system health.

Nature and Environment

• Spending Time in Nature: Nature has a calming effect on the nervous system. Regular walks or spending time in natural settings can help in reducing stress.

• Creating a Calm Environment: Ensuring that your living space is calm and peaceful can help in nurturing your nervous system.

Emotional and Mental Wellness

Caring for the nervous system also restores emotional and mental balance:

• Reduced Anxiety and Depression: Regular self-care routines and deep breathing exercises can help in alleviating anxiety and depression.

• Preventing Burnout: Adequate rest and relaxation can prevent the overload of nerves that leads to burnout.

• Fostering Peace and Stability: Prioritizing nervous system health helps in cultivating inner tranquillity and resilience.

Practical Self-Care Routines

1. Adequate Rest: Ensuring you get enough sleep and taking breaks during the day to rest.

2. Regular Physical Activity: Engaging in physical activities like walking, yoga, or other forms of exercise.

Conclusion

By creating a nurturing environment for our nervous system, we empower our body to thrive. Physically, we boost our body’s resilience and improve various aspects of health. Emotionally and mentally, we restore balance and clarity, enabling us to face life’s challenges with grace and strength. Prioritizing nervous system health through mindfulness, yoga, nature, and self-care routines can lead to a more harmonious and fulfilling life.