A somatic reflection for the soul-weary
There is a rhythm within the body that no clock can measure. It exists beneath urgency, beneath ambition, beneath the constant movement of modern life., but it is often the first thing we lose touch with.
We are praised for being busy., strive and even encouraged to keep going and even taught
to measure our worth through productivity. But the body tells a different story.
What True Rest Is Not
- Let’s begin by gently undoing a modern myth.
- Rest is not watching television.
- It is not scrolling social media.
- It is not checking emails with a cup of tea.
- It is not even reading a captivating novel.
- These are valid forms of escape and pleasure, but they do not activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the space of true repair.
Why Rest Can Feel Difficult
If slowing down feels uncomfortable, there is nothing wrong with you. It may simply mean your system has become accustomed to being in motion.
When the body has been in a state of ongoing demand, stillness can feel unfamiliar — even uneasy at first.
This is why rest is not something we force.
It is something we approach gradually – with care, patience. and with permission.
Returning to Rest
In a somatic sense, true rest is simple.
The body is supported.
The breath is unforced.
The mind begins to quiet.
Nothing is being asked. Nothing is being achieved, and in that space, something deeper can begin to happen.
The system softens.
The body recalibrates.
A sense of return becomes possible.
This is not laziness. It is restoration. It is the body remembering how to come back to itself. And for many, that quiet return is where healing begins.
By Lala Menen
About the Author
Lala Menen is a movement and somatic practitioner, a yoga teacher, researcher and author offering gentle, restorative practices that help the body release tension, calm the nervous system, and restore ease of movement.
Her work is an exploration of how the body holds, adapts, and eventually lets go.
Blending somatic practice with quiet contemplative awareness, she offers a gentle approach to restoring ease in the modern body—one that listens rather than forces and allows change to emerge naturally.
Author of The Soma Awakens Understanding SMA and how to undo tense holding patterns in the body to reduce common aches and pains.
Purchase The Soma Awakens: https://amzn.eu/d/00omSl03
Author of Release — A practical guide to easing tension and restoring ease in the modern body (Coming Soon)