PERMISSION TO REST

A revolutionary invitation to tend to our fundamental need for renewal by disengaging from our devices and acknowledging the systems that keep us running on empty, from the author of How to Breathe.

In a culture that constantly tells us to do more of everything, including nothing, PERMISSION TO REST is a passionate cry for a more regulated, resourced, and rested life. Wellness expert Ashley Neese, author of HOW TO BREATHE, combines personal essays, contemplative questions, scientific research, and somatic practices to help readers disrupt the trance of urgency, reflect inward, and rest deeply.

Ashley invites readers to question their beliefs around rest and offers support around the very real challenges of shame, guilt, and discomfort that often arise when we attempt to slow down. She presents a series of body-focused rest practices for those who are experiencing burnout, such as Cultivating a Rest/Work Rhythm, Nature Bathing, and Social Media Sabbatical. She addresses common roadblocks when beginning a rest practice, the incredible health benefits of prioritizing rest, and a number of holistic resources for developing a sustainable relationship to rest. The practices work for those short on time, but their benefits build the more you practice every day. PERMISSION TO REST is both a timely manifesto and compassionate call to action.

In her signature warm, grounding, and authoritative style, Ashley invites each of us to pause, look inward, learn to feel our own rhythms, and value rest as a deeply healing, empowering, and spiritual practice. This book is a reminder that we have the power to transform our lives from the inside out.

Ashley Neese holds an MFA from the California College of the Arts and is certified in breathwork, Hatha yoga, and more. Ashley has practiced breathwork for years and works with clients all over the world. She is a regular contributor to GOOP and opened the 2018 GOOP On Health summit. She is also the author of HOW TO BREATHE (Ten Speed Press, 2019).