Steve and I at the Grand Canyon’s southern rim. It was breathtaking (and cold)!
Taking a wider lense to our definition of restoration.
Last week, Steve and I stepped away from the excitement of the holiday season. We unplugged, breathed and spent a low key week hiking in Sedona (amazing!) and the Grand Canyon’s southern rim. Just the two of us. It was very low key, and just what we needed.
Nature has a way of quieting the noise. Urgency softens, and we’re reminded how much energy we give to things that don’t deserve the space.
And then I realized something…We talk a lot about strength, endurance, discipline, and consistency, but we rarely talk about restoration as a choice, rather than a correction.
In a culture built on plan more, do more, be more, restoration can feel indulgent – or even unproductive. But this kind of restoration isn’t about checking out.
It’s about recalibrating before we’re forced to reset.
Why Restoration Feels Counterintuitive (Especially in American Culture)
In the U.S., many of us are wired to keep moving forward — doing more, improving more, staying productive:
Plan more.
Do more.
Improve more.
Stay productive.
It’s a mindset that fuels innovation, resilience, and momentum. While it’s one we should value, it also means we’re less practiced at noticing when a small recalibration would actually serve us.
Many of us have been taught to associate motion with meaning, and output with worth. Pausing can feel unnecessary, unless something is “wrong.”
Our narrower lens tends to say:
“Rest is for recovery and burnout.”
Our wider lens should say:
“Restoration is how we stay creative, strong, and consistent.”
Restoration isn’t a reaction to burnout.
It’s how we stay centered, steady, and engaged.
The opportunity isn’t to do less.
It’s to balance how much we engage with how well we restore.
And that brings us to one of the biggest myths about restoration, the idea that there’s a single “right” way to do it.
My secret to leading energizing classes for 17 years? I intentionally schedule downtime into my week, and I am quick to say “no” when need it.
Restoration is different for everyone. It depends on how we spend our days.
According to research, our nervous systems thrive on contrast, not sameness. What restores us is often the counterbalance to whatever dominates our time and energy.
So if you’ve been sitting, focusing, thinking, and staring at screens all day, restoration often looks like:
moving our bodies
adding rhythm and music
changing posture and breathing
getting the heart rate up
The kind of movement that boosts circulation, supports mood chemistry, and gives the brain a break from constant thinking. Movement clears the mental clutter.
In contrast…
If your days are filled with teaching, leading, parenting, caring or being “on” for others, restoration may look very different:
quiet time in nature
fewer conversations
self-paced movement
less input, fewer expectations
Research on attention and creativity shows that low-stimulation environments, trees, trails, and wide-open spaces, help restore focus and mental clarity, especially for people who already move and engage all day long.
So the goal isn’t “do more” or “do less.”
The goal is balance.
Which brings us to these myths.
Restoration: Myth vs. Facts
Myth #1: Restoration means stopping
Fact: Restoration is about regulation, not a full stop.
We don’t restore by freezing life – we restore by helping our system reorganize.
Myth #2: Rest is passive
Fact: The most powerful restoration is often active recovery.
Rhythm, breath, music, and coordinated movement help our bodies settle without shutting down, which is why we can leave class feeling energized and calm.
Myth #3: If we’re tired, we should do less
Fact: Sometimes fatigue comes from under-stimulation, not overuse.
A narrow lens says “shut down.”
A wider lens asks: What kind of input does my system need right now?
Myth #4: Restoration looks the same for everyone
Fact: Restoration is personal, contextual, and ever-changing.
There’s no one way to do anything. Listen and respond to what your body and brain is telling you.
Myth #5: Hard work and restoration are opposites
Fact: The right kind of “hard” can be deeply restoring.
When challenge is paired with rhythm, purpose, and connection, it becomes organizing, not depleting. This is where resilience is built.
Myth #6: We have to earn rest
Fact: Restoration isn’t a reward – it’s a requirement.
Grounding
“Life is the dancer and you are the dance.” — Eckhart Tolle
Grounding is a current (helpful) buzz word having a moment. It’s doing anything that brings us into the present moment, and out of mental overdrive.
Movement can be grounding.
Nature can be grounding.
Music can be grounding.
Community can be grounding.
January 2025 marks Mojo’s 17th Year…
As we step into another year, I hope you’ll join me in stepping into a broader, more sustainable definition of balance.
One that honors effort and restoration.
One that values progress and presence.
One that reminds us we don’t need to feel guilty about rest, we need it to live more fully.
This year isn’t about doing less.
It’s about doing what truly supports us physically, mentally, and emotionally, so we can keep showing up for what we love.
With a full heart, immense gratitude, and girlish excitement, I look forward to the honor of jamming it OUT, growing, and showing up together in 2026…Let’s DO this. 
Related Articles
