What I learned outside the Muay Thai gym and how it helped me fight better.
As my phone buzzed, reminding me that my Muay Thai class started in 15 minutes, I rolled over in bed, tears welling in my eyes.
Recently, I’d pulled a muscle in class, and the pain in my hip demanded I rest and heal. But despite the ache, it was almost impossible to stop training.
If you know me, you know Muay Thai is a huge part of my life. It’s not just a sport – it’s a source of confidence building, connection, strength, and joy for me.
The thought of stopping?
It felt unbearable.
I resisted resting.
I detested it.
I refused to slow down and give in.
I even stubbornly did high kicks in my living room, ignoring the pleas of my body.
“Maybe I should go for a run. Do some Pilates. Gentle yoga. An ocean swim?”
Yet, even gentle movement hurt. Eventually, my body won the battle. No matter what I tried, nothing felt right.
Finally, in surrender, I gave in and listened to what the discomfort was telling me.
I heard anxiety, impatience, frustration, pouty reluctance, anger and the most uncomfortable of all - shame.
This shame was all too familiar.
It made my cheeks hot, my mouth downturn, my throat tighten.
It swirled in a pit in my stomach.
It spun a familiar ‘inner tantrum story’ in my mind.
And this tantrum was making me agitated and restless.
A shame that brought me to wallow in bed.
As I lay there, hip burning from Thai-grade massage oil, I realised the fire on my skin mirrored the fiery emotions inside me. Slowly, I understood why I’d resisted rest for so long.
I was feeling shame because I was holding on to a belief about myself. And it was a belief I did not want to admit: I was not good enough, because I was ‘weak’ and ‘vulnerable’ with my injured hip.
Through my eucalyptus-scented sheets, I saw that I had tied my self-worth to my ability to train. I began to understand now why I had been so stubborn and resistant to rest.
Because resting was scary.
I feared missing out inclusion at the gym and, even more, I feared facing my own emotions.
Going to Muay Thai would have kept me distracted from all this.
I didn’t want to be still. I wanted to be ‘safe’ by sticking to my routine.
It wasn’t FOMO that I was chasing, it was the fear of my own emotions that I was avoiding.
But in fact, once I allowed myself to slow down and rest, the safer I began to feel. And the less scary everything seemed.
Here’s what you can do to get to a place of easeful rest:
1.Feel your emotions without resistance: Allow yourself to experience the full range of feelings. Only when I acknowledged my shame could I see the belief I’d attached to it – that I wasn’t worthy if I couldn’t train.
2. Show yourself compassion: Treat yourself with kindness, like you would a child. Replace harsh “I should” thoughts with gentle “It’s OK to” affirmations.
3. Talk about your resistance: Sharing my fears about missing training helped dissolve them. The compassion I received made me feel seen and included, which softened my self-judgment.
4. Surrender to your body’s needs: Whether it’s extra sleep, a massage, or simply lying down, listen to your body. It will thank you.
5. Lean into self-love: Use this time to nourish yourself. Enjoy moments that make you feel happy, supported, and loved, whether it’s a favourite snack, a good podcast, or time with friends.
6. Take it slow: Ease rest into your routine in small doses. Start with just five minutes and build up gradually. The more I practiced rest, the more natural it became.
We aren’t taught how to rest. We learn to push through, to ‘power on,’ even when our body is crying out for stillness.
But there is strength in rest, just as much as there is in taking action.
Rest isn’t just physical. It can be emotional or energetic, like taking a break from a relationship or slowing down your workweek to focus on family.
Here are a few easy ways to start resting more:
Practice Yoga Nidra or deep breathing exercises
Affirm to yourself that it is safe to rest
Listen to your body for cues to rest, not your brain/mind
Schedule naps into your day (yes, really!)
Celebrate yourself for resting - it’s a superpower to cultivate!
Diffuse calming essential oils like lavender or chamomile
What’s one small, restful activity you can implement that would create the biggest impact for you?
Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear from you.