From Spa Days to Soul Care: Reclaiming Rest as Resistance

Let’s be honest: self-care has been hijacked.
Somehow, it’s become synonymous with bubble baths, face masks, and $200 retreats. And while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying any of that, the truth is—what many of us really need isn’t another scented candle.

We need rest.
We need space to say no without guilt.
We need time that isn’t measured by productivity.
We need care that feeds the soul, not just the schedule.

Self-Care vs. Soul Care

Self-care isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes, it looks like:

• Turning your phone off and resting in silence.
• Unlearning the need to be available to everyone, all the time.
• Saying “I can’t take that on right now.”
• Taking a nap without “earning it.”
• Choosing therapy instead of powering through.

Soul care goes deeper. It asks: What helps me feel rooted, restored, and real?
Not what looks good—but what actually heals.

The Mental Health Toll of Not Resting

When rest is neglected, especially by women and caregivers in marginalized communities, the impact isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and spiritual too.

Chronic exhaustion leads to:

• Heightened anxiety and mood swings
• Depression and emotional numbness
• Trouble concentrating or decision fatigue
• Increased risk of burnout, autoimmune issues, and more

But more than that, not resting sends a dangerous message to ourselves:
My worth is tied to what I produce.
My needs come last.
I can’t stop, or it’ll all fall apart.

This is not just a personal issue. It’s a systemic one.

Why Rest Is Resistance

Audre Lorde once said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

For BIPOC women especially, rest is a radical act. We have been conditioned to endure—to be strong, selfless, tireless. But our constant labor (emotional, physical, generational) has come at a cost. Rest challenges white supremacy, capitalism, and the idea that your value is only in how much you do for others.

To rest is to say:

I am not a machine.
I am not responsible for carrying everything.
My humanity matters.

Culturally Mindful Rest Practices for BIPOC Women

Rest is not one-size-fits-all. Here are a few rest practices rooted in cultural mindfulness and community:

• Sacred silence: Create moments of stillness, even just five minutes, to connect with breath and spirit—especially important in cultures where noise and caretaking are constant.
• Storytelling and journaling: Reclaim your narrative. Write or speak your truth as a way of releasing burdens and reclaiming agency.
• Intergenerational rest: Invite your family—especially younger generations—into rest rituals. Normalize it across generations.
• Spiritual rest: Whether through prayer, ancestral practices, meditation, or intuitive rituals—tend to your spirit, not just your mind.
• Community care: Lean into rest supported by others. Rest doesn’t have to be solo; sometimes it’s a friend making you tea, or a safe circle where no one expects you to perform.

A New Definition of Strength

Let’s rewrite the narrative.
Strength isn’t “pushing through” everything.
Strength is knowing when to stop.
Strength is having the courage to reclaim your time and energy.
Strength is softness, too.

Final Thoughts: You Deserve More Than Survival

This isn’t about luxury. This is about liberation.
You deserve to thrive—not just survive.
To feel whole—not just helpful.
To rest, not as a reward, but as a right.

---

Ready to redefine what self-care looks like for you?
If you’re craving soul-deep rest, emotional reset, or guidance in creating boundaries, I invite you to enter your healing journey with us. Contact us today for therapy.

She Heals Team xoxo