Rest is Resistance- A Workshop

Thank you for registering for the three-hour in-person workshop. The workshop is supported by a Grove Hall Trust community grant which supports the mission to enhance the quality of life in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Boston.

The Rest Is Resistance Workshop is facilitated by Lisa Leung-Tat, 500RYT. DEI, (add credentials.)

Workshop Pre-Survey

Please take a few moments to complete the short survey. We look forward to seeing you on September 28 at 11am at the Franklin Park Golf Course Club House.

Rest Is Resistance Learning Outcomes:
Understand the sensation(s) and impact of trauma and stress on the body.
Identify personal anxiety triggers.
Know the difference between principles and methods rest + self-care.
Use the breath to connect to the body.
Value the importance of caring for oneself.
See the impact it has on others.
Reflect on what it means to rest as a resistance to the grind culture.

We will :

1. Rest- Connect to core identity.

2. Dream-Tap into creativity

3. Resist- Let go of a legacy of exhaustion.

4. Imagine -Replace cynicism with agency.
   

Pre Workshop
Use time for self-exploration, reflection re-direction of how you embrace the idea of rest as resistance.
The idea of

You can use the resources on this page to facilitate your own personal wellness journey outside of the three-hour workshop. Here are some suggestions to help facilitate a process on your wellness journey:

1-(Optional) Private journal your reflections on
-readings, discussions, worksheets, meditations
-what is your relationship to rest?
- what does it mean to you when you hear that rest is a form of resistance?

2-(Optional) Download, review and complete at your leisure
Self-Awareness Assessment
Treasure Journal Workbook
Review: https://www.ritualofbreath.org/resources

Day of Workshop September 28th 11AM-2PM The Franklin Park Golf Course Clubhouse.
Participants will receive a copy of the Trisha Hersey’s book, Rest Is Resistance: a Manifesto.

First Hour: Rest + Dream
Mindfulness meditation rooted in rest. The more we rest the more we wake-up
What does it mean to you when the author says, ‘Your body is a site of liberation. It doesn’t belong to Capitalism.

Second Hour: Resist + Imagine
What matters most to you?
How does rest, self-compassion show up for you?
What are your guiding principles when it comes to your rest + self-care?

Three Hour: The practice of rest

Use / Pick Ministry Cards and practice the meditations. Take time to reflect on the practices.

The Practice of Mindfulness + Meditations

The body keeps score on trauma and ways it shows up in your life.

How do you feel?

Twenty-four percent of individuals ages 15 and older report feeling very or fairly lonely. Feelings of loneliness can include but are not limited to: low to no energy, little to no motivation, problems falling to sleep and staying asleep, sharp weight loss or gain, little to no appetite, regular ongoing irritability, negative thoughts and feelings about self and others.

You are not alone. There is help. Simple, yet consistent self-care practices can ward off feelings of sadness and depression. Start by identifying your feelings, understand the difference between the quality and quantity of social connections, create strategies to balance expectations v.s reality.

Two types of loneliness: situational and chronic

1. Situational loneliness: after moving to a new city, starting a new job or the death of a loved one.

2. Chronic loneliness stems from psychological and social patterns over time most often attributed to childhood behaviors. 

What is Anxiety?

The feelings of anxiety, worry is a mix of physical sensations, emotions, and stressful thoughts.
Have you had feelings of anxiety? If so, write down when and what triggered it. Describe the symptoms of you experienced and how long it took for the feelings of worry to go away. Do you have someone you trust that you can talk about these feelings.

Feelings of anxiety include: upset about everything, having fast heartbeats, having headaches, no, or less appetite, easily tired, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath.

Seven Pillars of Mindfulness

• Non-judging. The world isn't black and white.

• Patience. As the saying goes, patience is a virtue. .

• Beginner's Mind. It's easy to lose yourself if you begin to believe that you have heard, seen and experienced everything. ...

• Trust. ...

• Non-Striving. ...

• Acceptance. ...

• Letting Go.

Ten Minute Mindfulness Meditation

Try this ten-minute method to quiet anxious thoughts.

Paying attention to your breath can help you stay calm and focused. You can easily observe your breath any time you want.

This awareness can help relax your body and mind reducing stress and anxiety.

Let’s get started….

1. find a comfortable position with your back straight but not tense.
   Can you let your shoulders drop. If you feel safe close your eyes, or drop and soften your gaze. Relax your jaw, the muscles behind your eyes let soften.

2. Gently bring your attention to your stomach. As you begin to breather in and out, and up and down, focus on the rise and fall of your stomach.

3. Keep your focus on the sensation of breathing. Go along with the natural rhythm of your breath, from the beginning of each inhale to the end of each exhale follow the breath as if you are riding a wave of your breath.

4. Notice do you have any thoughts. Whenever you notice that your attention moves away from feeling your breath move through your body, come back to the breath. Thought are similar to clouds they move past and are gone in a moment, just breathe, and focus on the waves of your powerful breath.

5. You might have thoughts such as ‘this is silly.’, ‘I can’t do it.’, ‘Am I doing it right?’ These are just thoughts that will pass. Every time you notice your mind wandering towards a thought, disconnect from it and focus on your breath.
   
   Our mind wanders away from the breath a thousand times a day, always bring your attention back to your breath, no matter what has you distracted.

   Your breath is a tool to honor your self, your agency and integrity.
   
   Can you journal about how you feel after you practice this mediation?

8 Limbs of Yoga

• YAMA – Restraints, moral disciplines or moral vows.

• NIYAMA – Positive duties or observances.

• ASANA – Posture.

• PRANAYAMA – Breathing Techniques.

• PRATYAHARA – Sense withdrawal.

• DHARANA – Focused Concentration.

• DHYANA – Meditative Absorption.

• SAMADHI – Bliss or Enlightenment.

What does wellness mean to you? Pick a word, a place, a thing that represents wellness.

Please join me in whatever position feels good at this moment.  Once you arrive, soften your gaze or close your eyes. If that feels good, turn inward, place your hands wherever you feel comfortable, observe your breath.  Feel it moving in and out with each inhale and exhale. 

Continue to breathe and I invite you to notice sensations in your body, what is showing up for you?  Just  honor and accept you as exactly as who you are and how you are showing up right now.  

What does healing mean to you?  What does it feel like to you?  What does it look like? Sound like?  What does healing feel like?  What’s opening up for you? Take a moment to consider where you are right now in your healing journey?  It's a journey not a destination? What do you need?

What is your next step in your healing journey? What is one little thing you can do today to just honor what is your truth?  Honor yourself, your compassion and love.  Deep breath in and out, honor where you are at in your life/health wellness journey? 

Honor it. Gently mindfully comment back into your space, being in a space of health and wellness takes work. Self-care is not being selfish, on the contrary it's the best thing  you can do for others. Love all the time, this is a moment to think about what you need.