| One of the features of acupuncture I love is its ability to take people into, what I refer to as, deep rest. Deep rest is a state of being that lets our nervous system pause. At the same time deep rest supports and encourages all of our health systems to flourish. When we are in this state of rest our immune system, hormonal system, and digestion flourish – they function best in a state of rest and repose. Much of our life these days is filled with the opposite of deep rest. Much of our life is now spent with our nervous system on edge, or at least at the ready. Driving through traffic, worried about some aspect of adulting, our bodies rarely have the chance to abide in this state of deep rest. I feel very fortunate that I get to explore this state of rest on the beautiful waters of the Salish sea. Four years ago I purchased a small sailboat with a friend. Now every summer I get to spend some of my free time exploring the amazing world that is only minutes away from those of us who live on Vancouver island. Each time I venture out I am awestruck at the amount of beauty, stillness, and peace that welcomes me. Venturing out on my boat I encounter some of this most beautiful sites that my senses have ever taken in, all within an hour or two of my home. One of the things I enjoy most is the utter slowness that sailing brings. Moving along at a walking pace, or being pushed along by the wind, my mind slowly unwinds – some sort of deep remembering occurs regarding my body’s preferred pace. The sense of silliness and rest feels like food for the soul – a nourishment that is hard to find in my normal urban life. In these moments I can see how we, as humans, are designed for this kind of speed and stillness. I imagine that at one time a lot of our life was filled with moments like these – no cell phone to stare into, no action or response required. Deep rest. When I think about the contrast of our current modern life, I think, no wonder we struggle with so many ailments. How could we not, when our nervous system hardly has a minute of peace and quiet. Our bodies and spirits need this kind of rest and stillness, whether we find it out in nature, or in a cozy recliner chair among a group of fellow nappers. As I take in this moment of stillness and beauty I am wishing that you too will have an opportunity to find some deep rest in the coming days this summer. |
