The Art of Rest: Learning to Listen Before the Body Screams
By Šárka | Wildflower Somatics
Trauma Informed Somatic Coach • Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator • SE Practitioner
There are times when rest comes as a choice.
And then… there are times when it comes as a consequence.
This past week, I was reminded of that in a very embodied way.
When the Body Whispers
Over the past few weeks, I sensed that I was pushing.
Not in a dramatic way—just a quiet accumulation of effort.
My schedule was full, my mind always juggling, my body… a little more tired each day.
Then on Monday night, after a long day in the clinic, I felt it clearly:
“Go home. Go to bed early. You are very tired.”
It was a clear, kind whisper from my body.
But I already had plans—to finally meet up with my partner and a dear friend we’d been trying to see for weeks. It felt like something I should do. A joyful moment to look forward to.
So I ignored the whisper.
And off I went—on a bus with blasting AC, to a street-side restaurant filled with noise, overstimulation, and the effort of speaking over it all.
I got home close to midnight. And I knew… it had been too much.
When the Body Speaks Louder
The next day, my body didn’t whisper.
It spoke loudly.
Fever. Sore throat. Cold symptoms. A full-body shutdown.
It was forced rest.
And this time, I didn’t argue.
I curled up, rested, and apologized to my wise body for not listening when it spoke more gently.
Why Do We Wait?
So many of us are conditioned to override our body's signals—to push through, to stay "on," to keep going because life is full and the world is fast.
But what if we reclaimed rest as an art form, not just a reaction?
What if we didn’t wait until burnout, illness, or emotional exhaustion forced us to pause?
Rest isn’t laziness.
It’s listening.
It’s honoring the body as a living compass.
It’s a radical act of self-trust in a world that often rewards disconnection.
And just like the breath, we’re not meant to only inhale.
The inhale—doing, engaging, giving—is always followed by the exhale. A letting go. A softening. A return to stillness.
Our nervous system thrives not in constant action, but in rhythmic balance.
Rest is not the opposite of productivity.
It’s part of the natural cycle of life—and of healing.
What Somatic Work Teaches Us About Rest
In my work as a trauma-informed somatic coach and practitioner, I meet many people whose nervous systems have forgotten what rest feels like.
They are always in a subtle state of doing—even when lying down.
Together, we gently rebuild the felt sense of safety in stillness.
We learn how to notice the whispers before they become screams.
We explore rest that is nourishing, not numbing.
And we begin to unlearn the cultural idea that our worth is tied to what we produce or how much we give.
Rest is not just a pause.
It is a way of returning—
To rhythm.
To breath.
To body.
To self.
So today, I offer you this gentle reminder:
If your body is whispering, listen.
Because if we honor the whispers, we may not have to hear the scream.
With care,
Šárka
Šárka is the heart behind Wildflower Somatics — a space holder for women on the journey back to their bodies, their rhythm, and their truth.
As a trauma-informed somatic coach for women, trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator, and Somatic Experiencing® practitioner, she supports nervous system healing, embodied resilience, and soulful self-discovery — always honoring the wisdom of the body, the power of presence, and the courage it takes to feel. Her work weaves together somatics, mindfulness, and deep listening in service of sustainable inner change. With tenderness and depth, she invites women to root, rise, and bloom — in their own wild, gentle way.
