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Rest + Calm: Gentle yoga and mindful practices to nurture and restore yourself
The nurturing, practical guide to finding rest and calm – even when it feels impossible
'The ideal gift to yourself - or for anyone who needs to feel less stressed.' - Viv Groskop
'A gem of a book' – Bo Forbes
Here's a radical
You deserve rest.
Packed with advice, exercises and support from one of the UK's leading restorative yoga teachers, Rest + Calm is your gentle, wise guide to making space and time to come back home to yourself.
Do you find it hard to give yourself permission to pause? This book will show you how – whether you only have time for three breaths or a five minute rescue posture, or can practise for half an hour. You'll reap the rewards in sounder sleep, happier relationships, better boundaries and improved resilience.
The first part of the book, REST, offers simple, profound, nourishing restorative yoga poses and sequences. The second part, CALM, gives practical tips and techniques for intentional living day-to-day, and emotional rescue for when it feels like you have no time. From the most restorative savasana you've ever experienced, to the benefits of a Switch-Off Sunday, there is something here for even the busiest and most stressed amongst us, and for all levels of yoga ability.
Think of this book as your 'rest toolkit', to dip into whenever you need it. Rest + Calm is designed to be the comforting friend - and the supportive hug - we all need.
'The ideal gift to yourself - or for anyone who needs to feel less stressed.' - Viv Groskop
'A gem of a book' – Bo Forbes
Here's a radical
You deserve rest.
Packed with advice, exercises and support from one of the UK's leading restorative yoga teachers, Rest + Calm is your gentle, wise guide to making space and time to come back home to yourself.
Do you find it hard to give yourself permission to pause? This book will show you how – whether you only have time for three breaths or a five minute rescue posture, or can practise for half an hour. You'll reap the rewards in sounder sleep, happier relationships, better boundaries and improved resilience.
The first part of the book, REST, offers simple, profound, nourishing restorative yoga poses and sequences. The second part, CALM, gives practical tips and techniques for intentional living day-to-day, and emotional rescue for when it feels like you have no time. From the most restorative savasana you've ever experienced, to the benefits of a Switch-Off Sunday, there is something here for even the busiest and most stressed amongst us, and for all levels of yoga ability.
Think of this book as your 'rest toolkit', to dip into whenever you need it. Rest + Calm is designed to be the comforting friend - and the supportive hug - we all need.
- GenresNonfiction
176 pages, Paperback
Published May 3, 2022
2 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 7, 2023
Embrace relaxation and well-being through the restorative yoga and mindfulness practices presented in the book ‘Rest + Calm.’
In the midst of our busy lives, the pursuit of rest often takes a backseat to the demands of daily routines. Yet, the importance of rest remains undeniable. As evidenced by a comprehensive study of 18,000 individuals from 134 countries, people who don’t get enough rest suffer from a variety of health problems.
In ‘Rest + Calm: Gentle yoga and mindful practices to nurture and restore yourself,’ we encounter a beacon guiding us toward embracing rest and self-care. In this review, we explore its profound insights and practical wisdom, unveiling the transformative potential of gentle yoga and mindfulness.
Author’s background
Paula Hines is a yoga instructor and columnist for OM Yoga Magazine.
With a background in being an expert trainer in Advanced Relax and Renew techniques (specialising in restorative yoga), Paula transitioned into the field of yoga instruction in 2011 following her career as a script editor and humorist for the BBC.
What is the book about?
‘Rest + Calm: Gentle yoga and mindful practices to nurture and restore yourself’ is a versatile restorative toolkit for on-demand use.
The book is divided into two main parts. The first part, called ‘REST,’ focuses on restorative yoga and guides readers through different poses and sequences. This section also gives a basic overview of how restorative yoga affects your body and brain as well as discloses the benefits of this kind of yoga.
The second part, ‘CALM,’ goes beyond just yoga poses. It gives practical advice and ways to live intentionally and find emotional comfort when life gets tough.
Paula Hines emphasises that learning how to rest and getting away from always being busy takes practice. It’s okay to not be perfect; it’s more important to try and take care of yourself.
Key takeaways from ‘Rest + Calm’
1. Restorative yoga is one of the best ways to achieve genuine relaxation
Restorative yoga offers a profound avenue for achieving genuine relaxation of both body and mind. This practice envelops you in a comforting embrace, fostering an environment of support and solace – a rarity in our fast-paced lives.
Central to the effectiveness of restorative yoga are props – tools that provide physical support and elevate comfort. Enhanced comfort leads to a deeper state of relaxation. Remarkably, you need not invest in elaborate gear; everyday items like cushions, blankets, and even walls can serve as effective props. This accessibility ensures that the practice is within reach for all.
2. Practising restorative yoga brings a plethora of wellness benefits
The relaxation response serves as a countermeasure to stress-induced fight-or-flight reactions. It is recommended to dedicate 10 to 20 minutes daily to this practice decades ago, recognizing its potential to alleviate stress. Restorative yoga, due to its calming nature, is an effective way to achieve this response.
Unique in its ability to provide genuine rest, restorative yoga is particularly effective against chronic stress, the practices in the book offer valuable stress management techniques, along with benefits such as immune enhancement, increased energy, anxiety reduction, better sleep, tension release, lower blood pressure, hormonal balance, and recovery from injuries. By embracing restorative yoga’s relaxation response, readers gain a holistic approach to nurturing their overall health and balance.
3. Restorative yoga activates the vagus nerve, leading to unique health benefits
Triggering the vagus nerve initiates the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system, making practices like restorative yoga, pranayama and meditation effective tools for invigorating or fine-tuning this nerve. The advantages of stimulating the vagus nerve are noteworthy, spanning enhancements in physical well-being and the mitigation of diverse conditions. Its ability to induce relaxation and reduce inflammation contributes to its healing impact on the body. Often used to manage epilepsy and depression, vagus nerve stimulation stands as a versatile therapeutic approach with extensive benefits.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Includes different sets of poses targeting specific needs like anxiety or depression provides practical versatility.
• The author’s calming personality and empathetic tone resonate throughout the text, fostering a connection with the reader.
• The addition of illustrations aids understanding, making complex aspects of yoga easier to comprehend.
Weaknesses:
• For experienced yoga practitioners or those seeking more advanced techniques, the book might feel limited in its depth of content.
Best quotes from ‘Rest + Calm’
“Many of the restorative poses we know were developed by B.K.S. lyengar of Pune, India, or inspired by his therapeutic work. Well-known for his use of props, Mr lyengar experimented with them, modifying poses until his students could practice without strain, and he also explored how these versions of the poses could help people recover from injury or illness.”
“Restorative yoga is one of a number of ways to achieve this, as the very nature of the practice facilitates deep relaxation. A very important aspect of restorative yoga (and also where it differs from other forms of yoga) is that it gives our bodies the opportunity to truly rest and, for our health and well-being, rest is a necessity rather than a luxury.”
“Inhale. As you exhale, allow both knees to gently fall over to your right. As you inhale, bring your knees back to centre. On your next exhale, allow both knees to gently fall over to your left. As you inhale, bring your knees back to centre. Continue with this five to 10 times on each side, linking your breath to your movement. As with the supine version of this, as your knees move to the right and left, they might touch the floor, but they don't have to. Allow this movement to be as small or as big as feels right for you.”
Final takeaway
In Paula Hines’ book ‘Rest + Calm,’ she invites us to find peace and take care of ourselves in today’s busy world. Hines, who knows a lot about yoga, guides us through gentle exercises that can help us relax our bodies and minds.
If you are a yoga newbie looking for ways to improve your well-being, ‘Rest + Calm’ is an excellent book that can assist you in achieving a more relaxed and balanced state.
In the midst of our busy lives, the pursuit of rest often takes a backseat to the demands of daily routines. Yet, the importance of rest remains undeniable. As evidenced by a comprehensive study of 18,000 individuals from 134 countries, people who don’t get enough rest suffer from a variety of health problems.
In ‘Rest + Calm: Gentle yoga and mindful practices to nurture and restore yourself,’ we encounter a beacon guiding us toward embracing rest and self-care. In this review, we explore its profound insights and practical wisdom, unveiling the transformative potential of gentle yoga and mindfulness.
Author’s background
Paula Hines is a yoga instructor and columnist for OM Yoga Magazine.
With a background in being an expert trainer in Advanced Relax and Renew techniques (specialising in restorative yoga), Paula transitioned into the field of yoga instruction in 2011 following her career as a script editor and humorist for the BBC.
What is the book about?
‘Rest + Calm: Gentle yoga and mindful practices to nurture and restore yourself’ is a versatile restorative toolkit for on-demand use.
The book is divided into two main parts. The first part, called ‘REST,’ focuses on restorative yoga and guides readers through different poses and sequences. This section also gives a basic overview of how restorative yoga affects your body and brain as well as discloses the benefits of this kind of yoga.
The second part, ‘CALM,’ goes beyond just yoga poses. It gives practical advice and ways to live intentionally and find emotional comfort when life gets tough.
Paula Hines emphasises that learning how to rest and getting away from always being busy takes practice. It’s okay to not be perfect; it’s more important to try and take care of yourself.
Key takeaways from ‘Rest + Calm’
1. Restorative yoga is one of the best ways to achieve genuine relaxation
Restorative yoga offers a profound avenue for achieving genuine relaxation of both body and mind. This practice envelops you in a comforting embrace, fostering an environment of support and solace – a rarity in our fast-paced lives.
Central to the effectiveness of restorative yoga are props – tools that provide physical support and elevate comfort. Enhanced comfort leads to a deeper state of relaxation. Remarkably, you need not invest in elaborate gear; everyday items like cushions, blankets, and even walls can serve as effective props. This accessibility ensures that the practice is within reach for all.
2. Practising restorative yoga brings a plethora of wellness benefits
The relaxation response serves as a countermeasure to stress-induced fight-or-flight reactions. It is recommended to dedicate 10 to 20 minutes daily to this practice decades ago, recognizing its potential to alleviate stress. Restorative yoga, due to its calming nature, is an effective way to achieve this response.
Unique in its ability to provide genuine rest, restorative yoga is particularly effective against chronic stress, the practices in the book offer valuable stress management techniques, along with benefits such as immune enhancement, increased energy, anxiety reduction, better sleep, tension release, lower blood pressure, hormonal balance, and recovery from injuries. By embracing restorative yoga’s relaxation response, readers gain a holistic approach to nurturing their overall health and balance.
3. Restorative yoga activates the vagus nerve, leading to unique health benefits
Triggering the vagus nerve initiates the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system, making practices like restorative yoga, pranayama and meditation effective tools for invigorating or fine-tuning this nerve. The advantages of stimulating the vagus nerve are noteworthy, spanning enhancements in physical well-being and the mitigation of diverse conditions. Its ability to induce relaxation and reduce inflammation contributes to its healing impact on the body. Often used to manage epilepsy and depression, vagus nerve stimulation stands as a versatile therapeutic approach with extensive benefits.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Includes different sets of poses targeting specific needs like anxiety or depression provides practical versatility.
• The author’s calming personality and empathetic tone resonate throughout the text, fostering a connection with the reader.
• The addition of illustrations aids understanding, making complex aspects of yoga easier to comprehend.
Weaknesses:
• For experienced yoga practitioners or those seeking more advanced techniques, the book might feel limited in its depth of content.
Best quotes from ‘Rest + Calm’
“Many of the restorative poses we know were developed by B.K.S. lyengar of Pune, India, or inspired by his therapeutic work. Well-known for his use of props, Mr lyengar experimented with them, modifying poses until his students could practice without strain, and he also explored how these versions of the poses could help people recover from injury or illness.”
“Restorative yoga is one of a number of ways to achieve this, as the very nature of the practice facilitates deep relaxation. A very important aspect of restorative yoga (and also where it differs from other forms of yoga) is that it gives our bodies the opportunity to truly rest and, for our health and well-being, rest is a necessity rather than a luxury.”
“Inhale. As you exhale, allow both knees to gently fall over to your right. As you inhale, bring your knees back to centre. On your next exhale, allow both knees to gently fall over to your left. As you inhale, bring your knees back to centre. Continue with this five to 10 times on each side, linking your breath to your movement. As with the supine version of this, as your knees move to the right and left, they might touch the floor, but they don't have to. Allow this movement to be as small or as big as feels right for you.”
Final takeaway
In Paula Hines’ book ‘Rest + Calm,’ she invites us to find peace and take care of ourselves in today’s busy world. Hines, who knows a lot about yoga, guides us through gentle exercises that can help us relax our bodies and minds.
If you are a yoga newbie looking for ways to improve your well-being, ‘Rest + Calm’ is an excellent book that can assist you in achieving a more relaxed and balanced state.
February 7, 2022
This is a lovely book that brings me peace every time I pick it up. Thank you for celebrating rest for rest's sake, as opposed to rest for the sake of being able to be more productive. Although I have experimented with meditation and breathing techniques before, I had never tried restorative yoga prior to reading this. I liked that there were sets of poses that you could do for different needs, such as anxiety or depression. I wish I had had access to this when I was pregnant or post-partum - I believe it really could have made a difference in my state of mind if I'd had these tools in my pocket at that time. I'm so grateful to the author for making these strategies easy and accessible.
Thank you to Paula Hines, Bloomsbury USA, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Paula Hines, Bloomsbury USA, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2025
Part of the appeal of the book lies in a familiarity with Paula's beautifully balanced voice and purposeful movements in audiovisual offerings elsewhere. But only part, as it is a well structured clear book offering a smorgasbord of accessible options (getting out of bed and onto the floor not essential). This does mean that there's an element of repetition and occasionally wondering 'Has she said this here because it is specific to this pose or is she just happening to throw it in now?' This allows for dipping in and she includes lots of small tips.
I particularly liked the illustration choices for the book even though it is a style I tend not to find either clear or appealing more generally. I also appreciated her wider perspective, especially as a black woman. This is not a fluffy book.
I particularly liked the illustration choices for the book even though it is a style I tend not to find either clear or appealing more generally. I also appreciated her wider perspective, especially as a black woman. This is not a fluffy book.
April 19, 2022
What an amazing explanation on this aspect of yoga, the layout and artwork(graphics). As a yogi student is was helpful seeing the picture with a few thing I actually struggled to understand without a visual next to it. I will absolutely be adding this book to my shelf and use it in my teaching career.
March 28, 2022
Who doesn't need a little more R&R? I've practiced yoga on and off for many years, and while there's not much new here, it is presented in a loving, appealing way, and I found it helpful. Includes nice illustrations as well.
Thanks very much for the free review copy!!
Thanks very much for the free review copy!!
August 27, 2022
Skimmed.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews