The Sacred Pause: Why Rest Matters in Yoga and in Life

In yoga, we often say that savasana - the final resting pose - is the most important part of the practice.

It’s not about stretching or strengthening. It’s about stillness. It’s where everything we’ve done - all the movement, the breath, the effort - can settle in. We give ourselves permission to stop doing and simply be.

I’ve always loved this part of class. It’s like a soft landing before heading back out into the world. A quiet exhale after the work is done.

And funny enough, I learned the power of a pause long before I started teaching yoga - back when I was teaching Kindergarten.

At the time, I was pregnant with my first child, and I had 27 eager, energetic students in my class. We were together for a full day of learning - 8:00 am to 2:30 pm - and by 1:00, we were done. Tired, cranky and exhausted (and the kids felt the same way)! ;)

So I decided to try something simple - “Rest Time.” We didn’t roll out sleeping bags, and I didn’t insist they fall asleep. All I asked was that they put their heads down on the desk and pause. No talking. Just soft music playing in the background. Their only job was to rest.

At first, a few of them groaned when I turned off the lights and started the music - they weren’t used to stillness. But within a couple of minutes, their breathing slowed, their shoulders softened, and their eyes grew heavy.

They may not have wanted it at first - but their little bodies knew they needed it.

And you know what? It made all the difference. That 20-minute pause helped us all reset. We were calmer, kinder. We could make it through the rest of the day with a little more grace.

It wasn’t complicated. It didn’t cost anything. But it created a shift - one that I still carry with me.

Now, whether I’m on the mat or in the middle of a busy day, I come back to that same wisdom -  rest can be powerful.

We live in a world that often tells us to keep going - to hustle, to do more, to be “productive.” But I’ve learned that rest isn’t a sign of weakness or laziness. It’s where healing happens. It’s where we reconnect, reflect and reset.

Rest doesn’t have to be long. Sometimes, 20 minutes is enough. Sometimes, just one deep breath can create space. It’s not about stopping forever - just pausing long enough to return to ourselves.

So the next time you feel yourself pushing through your weariness, your to-do list or the pressure to keep going -  remember this: you don’t have to earn your rest.  You just have to allow it.

Give yourself the gift of the sacred pause.  You (and those around you) will be better for it.