Rest as Resistance
What does REST have to do with social justice?
A lot, as it turns out. At our Gathering this past Sunday, we discovered that rest is key in avoiding burnout, maintaining sanity, and moving from a place of compassion in social justice work. “Rest” in this context can be synonymous with the words “wellness” or “wellbeing.” We discussed that not everyone has access to rest and that marginalized people do not have the option to opt-out of social justice work when they are tired.
Let’s dive a little deeper into this, but first, I invite you to take five minutes right now to pause and rest. You can listen to this short meditation while seated, lying down, or even lying down with your legs up a wall.
What does rest look like for you?
Take a minute or two now to write down what helps you to feel resourced, rested and well. Click here for an example from The Nap Ministry or here for an example from Steph Barron Hall. Include, but don’t limit yourself to getting a good night’s sleep and taking the occasional nap. 😴
-What came up for you in making this list?
-Does rest feel REST-FULL or indulgent/selfish/like a waste of time/something you need to earn?
What does our culture prioritize over rest?
Rest often feels like a treat that we have to earn by producing something, by working hard, by being a certain way. If self-care feels like a waste of time, we are “buying in” to the notion that time is money and that our value is based on what we can show for our time. Our culture prioritizes do-ing rather than be-ing. This is why rest is counter-culture; this is why rest is a form of resistance; this is why rest is a pathway to freedom and liberation; and this is why rest isn’t accessible to everyone.
*In case no one has told you lately, you are a valuable & whole human being worthy of love regardless of how much money you make, how much work you got done today, or any other limiting belief that may be hard for you to tune out.
Privilege of Rest
We were reminded in our meeting that rest is essential because “we can’t give from an empty cup.” It can be so difficult to strike a balance in our day-to-day lives and in staying engaged with social justice work when the emotional and physical fatigue of working and fighting is so intense. But it is white people’s privilege to opt-out, disengage, choose when to fight and when to rest.
Marginalized folks don’t have the option to opt-out of social justice work when they are tired. They live these issues and struggles every day and that is exhausting. The inherited ancestral trauma of being enslaved, oppressed, victims of genocide, targets of hatred are clear and direct sources of pain and exhaustion that play a role even when basic needs of food, shelter, & sleep are met.
In light of this fact, it is imperative that white folks learn how to rest when we’re tired instead of giving up or quitting because we can.
Access to Rest
Because of this truth of ancestral trauma ➡️ inherited exhaustion, we discussed how resting in Savasana (corpse pose) in public yoga class setting can seem an impossible task in a Black body [this was the context of our conversation, but of course this experience is not limited to one marginalized group]. Cues for Savasana include “let everything go”, “relax your whole body", “allow yourself to be completely held”, and “simply rest”. Imagine if that didn’t seem like an option because you are anxious being the only minority in the room. Even if the room smells nice, the teacher seems kind, the playlist was fun, the practice approachable (basic needs met) there may be something on a cellular level within you that says “it’s not safe for you to rest”.
-What is your experience of public group yoga or fitness classes?
-Do you feel comfortable/safe to move as you need to and rest completely? Why or why not?
Call to Action
We didn’t wrap up the Gathering with a neat bow or come up with all the answers, not by any stretch. But in the context of practicing yoga, we discussed how marginalized folks take support in communities of color where they do not feel othered.
Most wellness spaces are predominately white, especially in Austin and the MYC community is no exception. This is why we are hosting a Free Weekend of Yoga & Fitness Classes for People of Color online via Zoom December 12-13. We recognize this issue and hope to offer up a space for POCs to move freely, breathe deeply & relax fully. We hope this will be the first of ongoing programs at Mantra Yoga Collective that uplift Teachers of Color’s voices and center the needs of Practitioners of Color.
None of us can do it all…here are some ideas to get you going:
REST: fortify your heart DAILY by doing one of the things on your list.
CONTEMPLATE and/or discuss with a friend or family member:
How does it feel to rest consciously and willingly every day
does it feel like a treat, luxury, or reward that you had to earn?
do you feel guilty, cared for, shameful, nourished, selfish, loved?
LEARN: take a look these resources that were shared in and after our meeting:
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates on “what is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it”.
The Nap Ministry: a community installation for Rest as Resistance created by Tricia Hersey (you can support her work on Patreon)
Support Black-owned Businesses from Nicole Cardoza’s Anti-Racism Daily (you can subscribe to ARD and support Nicole’s work here)
SUPPORT: Buy your holiday gifts from small business owners from marginalized communities…(and if they’re running a sale, DON’T use the discount code!) Here is a list of Austin-area Black-owned businesses published by Do512.
GIVE: Contribute to our Community Fund that goes to making our mark in the wellness world more equitable. Members and corporate clients can contribute to monthly or as one time gifts that goes to pay our teachers to offer free classes like our FREE Weekend of Yoga & Fitness Classes for People of Color December 12-13. We also use the Community Fund to offer free scholarship spots reserved for marginalized folks for all our workshops and events.
SHARE: Help us reach communities of Color for our Free Classes for POCs in December CLICK HERE TO SHARE THE FLYER NOW!
Nominate someone or claim one of our no-cost spots for Laura’s upcoming Beginner’s Yoga Series in January.
More perspective = more opportunity for understanding. Share your thoughts & experiences with us. Invite folks to join this conversation! 👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽
When’s the next Gathering?
At our next Gathering on Sunday, 12/20 (REGISTER HERE), we'll be discussing how to do social justice work in your family and close friend circles. We felt this would be an appropriate and hopefully useful topic to fortify ourselves with compassion during the holidays.
Keep the faith!
-laura (she/her)
PS: Y’all, I could not bring myself to publish this blog post for more than a week, worried that my intention and my impact wouldn’t match up, worried I’d said too much, worried I’d said too little, worried I’d offend or alienate folks. This hesitation brought me back to the last agreement that we came up with at the first Gathering: “We will practice compassion and make room for the messiness of learning and making mistakes as we grow.” So if this gets your hackles up, we have an opportunity to continue this conversation and grow together.