Leisure Education: Learning How to Rest with Intention

In this episode, we explore one of the most overlooked skills in modern wellness: how to rest with intention. Drawing from the evidence-based foundations of recreation therapy, Katherine breaks down why rest is more than “taking time off” — it’s a therapeutic practice grounded in neuroscience, lifestyle balance, and the history of human healing.

You’ll learn:

🌿 What leisure education is and why it matters
🌿 Why rest is often difficult, especially during stressful seasons or complex family systems
🌿 How the history of recreation therapy — from ancient cultures to moral treatment to modern evidence-based practice — shapes how we heal today
🌿 The difference between passive rest vs intentional rest
🌿 Practical ways to build leisure competence and integrate restorative routines into daily life

This episode also includes a guided grounding and connection check-in designed to help you regulate overwhelm, reconnect to your senses, and identify what your mind and body truly need in this moment.

Whether you’re navigating a challenging season or rebuilding your relationship with rest, this episode offers compassionate tools and research-backed insights to support sustainable well-being.

Chapters

• 1:27 Why We Struggle With Rest
• 2:24 A History of Recreation + Recreation Therapy
• 6:02 What is Leisure Competence?
• 6:55 The Science of Intentional Rest
• 7:49 How to Practice Intentional Rest
• 10:30 Brief Guided Check-In
• 11:33 Closing