Give Yourself Permission to Pause

I think most of us know that we need to relax.

We say things like, ‘I really need to slow down,’ or ‘I just need an hour to myself.’

But how often do we actually do it?

Life can feel very full. 

Work, family, responsibilities, appointments, messages and the never-ending list of things we think we should be doing.

Even when we finally sit down, our minds can still be busy.

This is where I think meditation and relaxation can be so valuable. 

Not because they’re another thing we need to be better at, but because they give us an opportunity to stop doing.

Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated

When you hear the word meditation, you might imagine someone sitting cross-legged, completely still, with a wonderfully peaceful, empty mind.

If that’s your idea of meditation, you might be thinking:

‘That’s definitely not me!’

But meditation doesn’t have to look like that.

At its simplest, it’s about bringing your attention to the present moment.

It might be noticing your breath, feeling your body against the floor or listening to the sounds around you.

And yes, your mind will wander.

That’s normal.

The aim isn’t to stop thinking. 

It’s simply to notice when your attention has wandered and gently bring it back.

Giving the body permission to relax

We spend a lot of our day doing. 

Even exercise, which is so important for our health, is still asking our bodies to move and perform.

There is also value in giving ourselves time when we don’t have to achieve anything.

Gentle movement can be a lovely way to begin.

A few slow pelvic movements, some gentle rotation or simply moving the arms with the breath.

Nothing strenuous. 

Nothing to achieve.

Just enough movement to reconnect with how your body feels.

And then… stillness.

You may suddenly notice how much tension you’ve been carrying – perhaps in your shoulders, jaw or somewhere else in your body.

Sometimes we don’t realise how much we need to relax until we finally stop.

The breath is always there

One of the simplest ways to begin slowing down is to notice your breathing.

You don’t need complicated techniques.

Simply notice the inhale.

Notice the exhale.

Perhaps allow the exhale to become a little slower and longer.

The breath is always with us, which makes it something we can return to whenever we need a pause.

Rest isn’t being lazy

I think this is something we could all remind ourselves of occasionally.

There can be a strange guilt attached to resting. 

We feel that if we’re doing nothing, we should be doing something.

But rest isn’t a reward for getting everything else done.

There will always be another email, another job on the list or another reason to keep going.

Sometimes we have to consciously choose to stop.

And that’s not laziness.

It’s simply recognising that we are human beings, not machines.

You don’t have to be good at meditation

Perhaps the most important thing I’d say about meditation is this:

You cannot be bad at it.

If your mind wanders 100 times, you simply notice it and come back 100 times.

If you feel restless, that’s okay too.

There is no perfect meditation.

There is simply an opportunity to pause and notice.

Sometimes an hour is enough

I’m a great believer in keeping things simple.

We don’t always need another trend, technique or thing to add to our routine.

Sometimes we just need a little space.

An hour without rushing.

An hour to breathe.

An hour to move gently.

An hour to lie down, be supported and rest.

You don’t need to come away feeling transformed. 

Perhaps you simply feel a little calmer. 

Perhaps your shoulders have dropped. 

Perhaps your breathing feels easier.

Or perhaps you simply enjoyed having an hour where you didn’t have to do anything.

And that, in itself, is enough.

Breathe • Move • Rest

This is why I’ve created my Breathe • Move • Rest sessions.

We’ll use simple breath work, very gentle movement and guided meditation, all on the mat and primarily in a comfortable supine position, with pillows and blankets to help you feel supported.

No pressure. 

No performance. 

No expectations.

Just an hour to pause, breathe, move gently and rest.

Because sometimes the most productive thing we can do……

…….is absolutely nothing.

Sam ‘exhaling’ Hobbs