Why Rest and Recovery Are Part of Growth
Progress isn’t only made in the push. It’s also made in the pause. In traditional competition culture, rest is often seen as a luxury or a sign of weakness. Hard work, long hours, and relentless dedication is praised. But without recovery, all that effort eventually hits a wall.
Rest is not the opposite of growth. It is a requirement for it.
Our bodies, minds, and spirits need time to integrate, recalibrate, and restore. Growth doesn't just happen during training, rehearsals, or performance. It also happens in the quiet moments, when we step away, breathe, and allow space for healing.
The Lie of Constant Hustle
The world often rewards output. It tells us that the more we do, the more we’ll achieve. But dancers, creatives, and leaders are not machines. Burnout is real, and it often arrives disguised as discipline.
Overworking can numb our creativity, disconnect us from our bodies, and eventually harm the very passion we’re trying to pursue. The truth is, pushing nonstop doesn’t make us better it just makes us tired.
What Recovery Actually Gives Us
Rest is not about doing nothing. It’s about doing what is needed to return to your work with clarity, energy, and presence so that we can do our most loving and meaningful work. That might look like sleep, stillness, reflection, movement that’s gentle, or time away from the noise.
Recovery offers:
Physical repair
Emotional grounding
Mental clarity
Creative renewal
Nervous system regulation
It restores the connection between body and mind, so we can move from alignment, not adrenaline.
These are all ESSENTIAL elements in taking care of our bodies, which is most importantly the physical home we actually LIVE in and is our container for the human experience - but our instrument and medium of art.
A Culture Shift in Dance and Leadership
At SOUL DE SOUL, we are building a culture that honors the pause as much as the performance. We remind our dancers and team members that rest is not earned, it is essential. We encourage our community to listen to their bodies, protect their energy, and view recovery as part of the process, not a detour from it.
Because True Growth Is Sustainable
Growth that burns you out is not real growth. It's survival in disguise. We are here to create longevity. To build a rhythm that supports our artistry, our health, and our joy.
So if you’re tired, know this: stepping back doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’re making space to come back stronger, wiser, and more whole.
Rest is powerful. Rest is productive.
Rest is part of the work friends!
With heart,
Mackenzie Martin
FOUNDER & CEO, SOUL DE SOUL
We invite you to join us on this journey. Stay connected with us by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on social media, or attending one of our events.