Stop a minute, right where you are. Relax your shoulders, shake your head and spine like a dog shaking off cold water. Tell that imperious voice in your head to be still.

Barbara Kingsolver

When the mind is engaged in some activity, it gets tired. So any type of concentration, contemplation or any activity in the mind can drain your system. When can you rest? Rest is possible when you have stopped all activities. When you stop moving around, stop working, talking, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, thinking – then you get rest or sleep. In sleep you are left with only involuntary activities like breathing, heartbeat, food digestion, blood-circulation etc. But this is not total rest. When the mind settles down, only then total rest is possible.

“Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream.”
― John Lennon

A simple breathing exercise

Sit or lie down

Keeping your mouth closed, breathe in deeply through your nose

Keeping your mouth closed,exhale fully through your nose

Breathe in/Breathe out

Breathe in/Breathe out

This simple exercise can be done with eyes closed or eyes open, it can be done anytime and anywhere. It has been shown to affect the parasympathetic nervous system and help rest and relaxation.  Enjoy!