There is a saying, that we make plans and God laughs. It seems we get so caught up in everything that needs to be done. New projects, deadlines, engagements, meetings- the constant doing doing doing. Rest has become a luxury, an indulgence, a guilty pleasure. For me- I work 30 hours a week managing a health food shop and also teach 2-3 yoga classes a week. In the winter of 2019 I was planning to extend my class schedule to include a Friday night Restorative Yoga class. A chance to unwind from your workweek and settle into a deeply relaxing and nourishing space. Complete with props that could support a gentle opening of the body, allowing for tension to dissolve in the body and mind. But then I got sick. Cough, sore throat, congestion, headaches, body aches, no sense of smell etc etc…Was it all too much? Being ill is sometimes the only opportunity we have to rest. We suddenly have to be good to ourselves. Sleep at least 7 hours a day, drink lots of fluids, eat simply. Right now people all around the world are ill. The Covid-19 Pandemic is going into full swing and social distancing measures are now being implemented to ensure our safety. Now more than ever we all need to take a step back for the greater good. We have to give ourselves and everyone space to rest before we can continue climbing this mountain. We can react with fear and anxiety, contributing to the collective suffering. Or we can choose to react in a way to contributes to a new era, a new perspective. One where we take better care of ourselves, of each other, and of this planet we all depend on. I have faith in the human spirit to create something beautiful out of chaos. I have faith that the power of rest might be just what we all need in these strange and unsettling times.