Over a year ago, I read an article by Martha Beck in Oprah Magazine where she mentioned Intentional Resting. At the time I was intrigued so I visited the website of Dan Howard, the creator of Intentional Resting. However, I just couldn’t seem to grok the lesson and while I have thought about exploring it more from time to time since, I have always dismissed the thought thinking I didn’t have time.
In the intervening year plus, since I first learned of Intentional Resting, I have continued to become more ill, most notably with myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome). This has added extra stress to my life and even though I am resting (sleeping) more, I am even more fatigued. I am not sure what brought Intentional Resting back into my awareness, but thank goodness something did and this time, I paid attention. This time I watched all the videos on Dan Howard’s website and listened to many of the audios. This time I truly got it. And, it is an amazing yet amazingly simple process.
Dan says that Intentional Resting creates homeostasis (balance) in the body. He says that the level any person is rested is the level they can be present for anything or anyone. When you are resting for yourself, you are choosing a new way of being and you are loving yourself. He says that resting, loving and presence are all the same thing.
One thing he invites you to do is to close your eyes and say the word “relax.” See how that feels? Now, close your eyes and say the word “rest.” Better, huh? Relaxing is still efforting. We tell people to, “just relax.” It has emotion or angst around it that “rest” doesn’t have.
It is not news that we are in deep need of rest in this world. We have 24-hour news, we are connected round-the-clock. Our cell phones are almost never (or never) turned off and we too often burn the candle at both ends. Intentional Resting allows us to ground ourselves and slow down a bit. Dan says, “Intentional Resting is moving forward in the world in a state of rest instead of adrenaline.”
So, how do you practice Intentional Resting? It is really quite easy:
- Simply find a spot in your body that is aching or tired and say, “I am resting for (name the spot) now.”
- You can also rest for your adrenals, your FMS/ME/CFS, your immune system or whatever it feels in your body needs to be rested for. It is all about bringing homeostasis, love, peace and presence to the body part or situation.
- More advanced, you can rest for other people, for groups, for upcoming presentations…the possibilities are endless.
Intentional Resting will be one of the first tools I reach for now no matter if I am dealing with pain, fatigue, insomnia or an emotional issue. Why not? It is FREE and just takes a few moments to “rest.”
