By Farah Nazarali
We are often over-scheduled and over-stimulated.
The ‘lazy day’ practice, started by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, is a drastic measure against the habit energy of doing. This practice creates space for the unknown, the unexpected, and the alchemy of change that brings about new possibilities.
“On lazy days, you refrain! You do your best in order to refrain from trying to do something. It’s hard because we have the tendency to think in terms of doing, and not in terms of being. We think that when we are not doing anything, we are wasting our time. That is not true. Our time, first of all, is for us to be. To be what? To be alive, to be peace, to be joy, to be loving.”
When taking a lazy day, you allow the day to unfold naturally. You may still make a cup of coffee as you always do, but on a lazy day, you have time to savour the coffee, contemplate the miracle of drinking something that is grown thousands of miles away, and bless the people who cultivate, grow, pick and transport coffee. Instead of turning on your computer or looking at your phone, you refrain and instead sit down and enjoy the sunrise. Instead of attending to texts, emails, and other people, you attend to your body, your mind, and your spirit, noticing what arises and being present with what is.
In our drive to be productive, we may miss the extraordinary moments that arise quietly, spontaneously, and miraculously. In these moments, in the space beyond our habit patterns, we can read the signs; the messages that life is communicating if only we are able to stop long enough and listen.
Amidst our most difficult challenges, the way forward is not in something we do, but in cultivating a quality of being. When we cultivate being-ness, there is a shift in our body and in our perspective. The way forward emerges not from our will, but from surrender to the present. This opens up a portal of communication with our instinct, intuition and connection to the sacred.
This intentional shift from doing to being lies at the heart of Wintering: Rest, Reflection and Inwards Practices, a restorative retreat at Hollyhock on October 11-15, 2026.
Just as nature slows its rhythm as the season turns inward, this program offers a dedicated sanctuary to step away from external demands and settle into deep rest. Through somatic yoga practices, journaling, reflection, and connection with nature, Wintering provides the space to step out of productivity, tune into your intuition, and navigate life’s transitions with presence and peace.
Wintering: Rest, Reflection & Inward Practices
With Farah Nazarali
Dates: October 11 – 15, 2026
Start your journey, click here to register.
