Self-Care as the New Workout: Healing Through Rest

I love working out. I’m one of those people who wake up excited to head to a yoga session or spin class. Fitness is a huge part of my life. I’ve been a yoga teacher and group fitness instructor for over 30 years. It’s both my career and my passion—and it’s how I manage stress and keep my body functioning.

Today, self-care is becoming a growing trend. We’re learning to slow down in a world that keeps speeding up, and to choose a gentle approach over a high-intensity one. There are many definitions of self-care, but one of my favorites is this: Surround yourself with things that recharge you and step away from those that drain you.

So how do we integrate self-care into our workouts?

Rethinking Rest: A Crucial Part of Your Routine

In the early days of my career, rest days were rare. Many people still think that “more training = more progress.” But the truth is, rest should be part of your training plan. According to the American Council on Exercise, overtraining without proper rest can increase your risk of injury.

Taking Care of Your Body

Rest days help your body recharge so it can come back stronger.

When you exercise, especially with strength training, you create small tears in your muscle fibers. These micro-tears rebuild stronger—but only if you allow time for recovery. Skipping rest delays progress and can lead to overcompensation injuries.

After rest, your body performs better and with less pain. You’ll move with greater ease and more energy.

Taking Care of Your Mind

Rest days are reminders to slow down.

Our lives are busy. Constant motion is the norm. But rest days help us pause and breathe, which benefits our mental and physical health. A break can renew your motivation and prevent burnout. Mental fatigue is just as harmful as physical exhaustion.

Active Rest: If You Can’t Sit Still

If a full day off isn’t your thing, go for active recovery. Take a gentle walk, light jog, or swim. Alternate high-intensity classes with yoga, indoor cycling, light resistance training, or myofascial release (like foam rolling). The more variety you introduce, the better your body will adapt and respond.

It’s Just One Day—Really

I used to fear rest days would erase all the hard work I’d done—but I was wrong. Rest days are essential to safe and lasting results.

Use them to explore other ways of moving, or spend time outdoors with family and friends. Remember: just as one workout won’t magically transform your body overnight, one rest day won’t undo your progress.

Rest is not a setback—it’s an act of self-care. And it’s essential to your long-term fitness journey.