Do your best to rest
Brené Brown says that “it takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol”. And it’s true, it’s never been harder to fully disconnect, albeit we’ve never needed it so much.
Summer is a good time to try anyway, to devote some time to fully rest, away from our phones.
And remember that resting is not only about sleeping. Dr. Dalton-Smith theorized that there are in fact 7 types of rest: physical, mental, emotional, social, sensory, creative, and spiritual rest.
Each type of rest plays a crucial role in recharging our bodies and minds. I find this theory fascinating, as it makes us question the root cause of our permanent fatigue and what to do about it. Here’s her Ted Talk if you’re curious to learn more.
Use the excuse of the heat to truly slow down and tune in and give yourself a well deserved break. Wishing you a restful August !
WORDS OF YOGA
Viparita Karani
My favorite pose for the summer is Viparita Karani or Legs up the wall.
Find a wall, scoop your buttocks against it, lift your legs, and voilà ! Rest your head and back heavy against the floor and open up your arms.
You can tie a belt over your thighs to keep them from spreading and you can place a blanket or a pillow under your low back if you prefer. This pose relieves heavy legs as it aids in better circulation in the lower limbs and also helps with low back pressure.
I do this pose almost every evening against my bedroom wall before going to bed, especially after a hot day !
A BOOK I ENJOYED LATELY
This is too short for a proper review, but if some of the following concepts resonate with you, then you might want to read that book. In it, Hendricks, an American psychologist & executive coach explains why we often sabotage ourselves right when we’re about to achieve more. The upper limit problem, or that pattern where we start to worry about what could go wrong when we think things are going “too well” for us, is a ceiling that we can break through if we’re willing to understand in which of the four hidden barriers lie our own limits.
Along the way, we learn to analyze our personal zones of incompetence, competence, excellence and our zone of genius. I found this to be a great introspection exercise !
If you want to increase your tolerance for things going well in your life, here is the link to listen to the audiobook on Spotify (free with premium).
And as our quote this month, the “ultimate success mantra” from the book: “I expand in abundance, success and love every day and I inspire those around me to do the same.”
2024 YOGA RETREATS
Next week I’ll be back at Villa Epicurea for a summer retreat with Namastrip. This one is a longer format, 6 days and 5 nights, and the theme is No Stress ! I’m excited to meet a new group of wellness travelers and to share special moments with them !
If you’re wondering what we do during a retreat, I summed it up in this short video.
There will be 2 more in the Fall: October 16-20 and November 7-11.
GROUP & PRIVATE CLASSES
No group classes in Lisbon this month. I look forward to teaching in-studio again the first week of September !
In the meantime, if you’re traveling and would like to keep up with your practice wherever you are, I teach private online classes throughout the summer. Simply hit reply if you’re interested and you can also book a call with me to discuss any questions you may have :)
Lastly, if you’re curious about life in Lisbon, each month I write a short essay on my Substack page (in English & in French). I publish a new article every month and you can subscribe for free.
✨ FROM LISBON, WITH LIGHT ✨
