Most of us have had moments when we long for silence inside our minds. We crave a pause, gap or moment when everything mentally unclenches. And yet, when we try to be still, the mind often becomes livelier than ever. Thoughts multiply. To-dos reappear. Old conversations replay. Future worries step forward.

This can make it seem as if a quiet mind is something unattainable.

But the truth that many of us don’t realise is that a busy mind is a function, and it's very normal.

The mind is designed to think. It processes, evaluates, compares, imagines, reminisces, predicts. Even when we rest, it hums away, doing exactly what it’s meant to do. Trying to stop that movement is a bit like trying to stop the tide — a noble effort, but not a realistic one. So how do we find some mental breathing space?

The real shift comes when we discover that stillness doesn’t depend on our thoughts stopping or disappearing. It requires us to notice something that’s already here...

There is always space — even when thoughts feel crowded

One way to glimpse this is to imagine each thought as a small movement passing through a larger landscape; like a ripple in a pond. Some thoughts drift through lightly. Others arrive all at once, overlapping, a little more agitated. However, if you look closely, there is always a bit of space, no matter how small, between one ripple and the next; between one thought and the next.

That subtle gap is where a sense of calm can begin to show itself. Because that spaciousness is part of how the mind naturally operates, we don’t need to force it or manufacture it. We only need to stop and notice it.

Sometimes that noticing feels instantaneous. Other times it takes practice, patience, and gentle conditions.

How Restorative Yoga helps us access that quiet space

Personally I find that Restorative Yoga is one of the most reliable ways that I'm able to connect with those subtle mental gaps.

The practice works by supporting the body so completely that it can release layers of effort you might not even realise you were holding. When the body stops gripping, the breath begins to flow more easily. When the breath softens, the mind is given permission to settle; not by stopping thought, but by inviting a slower rhythm. We often don't realise that it's us and our persistent engaging in our thoughts that gives them the momentum that builds and builds to complete distraction.

When allowed to rest in a soft, supportive and calm environment, such as what Restorative Yoga offers, people give themselves the space to discover a slower mental rhythm where thoughts feel less sticky, less demanding, less like urgent messages that need immediate attention.

Instead, the thoughts can drift. They can move. And, in the gentle space between them, a deeper, quieter presence begins to come forward.

This presence isn’t something special you only feel after years of practice. It’s something that is always there and always has been, just waiting beneath the noise.

A few ways you can explore this today

Here are some simple practices to help you experience this sense of spaciousness. No equipment is needed:

Notice the moment after you finish exhaling:
There’s often a small pause there, a natural stillness your body creates without you doing anything at all. Take a few breaths and see if you can sit with that moment of stillness.

Give your body permission to soften:
Sit or lie back, and rest your hands on your belly or chest. Let your shoulders drop a fraction. As the body softens, notice how your inner landscape might begin to soften too. Try not to expect it or force it. But just notice what comes up.

Allow thoughts to move without assigning them meaning:
Instead of interacting or engaging with them, or asking “Why am I thinking this?”, simply try to notice: “Oh, a thought...” This response creates instant space and distance between you and that thought.

These practices don’t eliminate the thoughts; they simply show you that you don't have to be confined or controlled by them.

Would you like to explore this more deeply?

If this idea of spaciousness between thoughts resonates with you, I’d love to support you in experiencing it more deeply through Restorative Yoga.

I invite you to:

Scroll to the bottom of this page and sign up to my mailing list to be notified of my next live online Restorative Yoga session
These are calm, grounding sessions, designed to soothe your nervous system and help you rest deeply.

Explore the Restorative Yoga library here inside the Self-Care Circle membership - select from the Filters in the top-left corner of the page
A cosy collection of practices to unwind after a long day or to return to when you simply need a little time, space, or quiet.

Or book a 1:1 Restorative Yoga session with me - click here for your free initial consultation
A personalised practice tailored to what your body and mind need most right now.

Whichever you choose, I'll support you and help you to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the peace that has been quietly waiting for you — right there between your thoughts.