Art of Rest with Jane 2026
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The Art of Rest
A number of years ago, I was unwell and needed to be signed off work for a few weeks. I had surgery scheduled and the instruction from the doctor was to rest in preparation. I couldn’t believe my luck- I was given permission to rest!
I bought myself some new pajamas, downloaded some movies, grabbed a book and headed to a cottage in West Cork. Only, once I got there it took me at least 5 days to relax and drop down into a state of true rest. My phone was ringing, my emails were pinging, my mind was reeling, and my body was screaming in resistance to this idea of rest. Rest was anything but easy, it was something that I had to relearn.
I soon learned that there is an art to resting. Indeed, I found out that I was not alone in this resistance to decompressing into rest. In April 2024, a global study found that 82% of the workforce is at risk of burnout, due to financial strain, increased workloads and exhaustion. The study found that rest is not just a priority. It is a survival strategy.
It doesn’t stop with those in employment!
Students, homemakers, retirees are all at risk. The Harvard Independent, a student weekly, calls for rest as resistance and attributes the demonizing of rest as a product of capitalism. Indeed, at times rest has been confused with laziness. Being ‘busy’ has become a sign of success. We have been cultured to see rest as a sign of weakness.
On the other hand, studies have found that rest is an important and necessary component to mental health and wellbeing, the development of healthy relationships, boost creativity, and healing the body after illness.
So, if you would like to relearn how to rest, why not join me for 7 days of Rest in 2026?
In this programme of Rest, we will explore the 7 kinds of rest during 7 days of retreat spread throughout the year.
The 7 kinds of rest are: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Sensory, Creative, Social and Spiritual rest.
So, if this calls to you, come rest with me!
The dates are:
April 12th
May 17th
June 14th
August 23rd
September 20th
October 18th
November 15th
About the facilitator: Jane Negrych has been teaching compassion-based mindfulness for 15 years. She is a past Managing Director of the Sanctuary and is currently teaching on the Being Present and 8-week MBLC teacher training programme.
Jane has developed the Mindfulness and Compassion Based Professional practice course that is run in conjunction with DCU, delivered the Caring for the Caregiver programme throughout the time of Covid and delivered and developed events for the Sanctuary, such as the Dawn Chorus and the Waiting for the Light.
She has an MSc in Studies in Mindfulness and is an Honorary Teaching Fellow at the University of Aberdeen. She is currently working towards her MSc in Psychotherapy.
