Redefining Rest and Reclaiming Ease with Steff Gallante
In this transformative episode of The Empowered & Embodied Show, hosts Kim Romain and Louise Neil sit down with self-care coach, yoga teacher, and podcast host Steff Gallante to explore the importance of ease, nourishment, and collective care. Together, they unpack the myths of self-care, challenge societal norms, and offer practical strategies for creating a more intentional, easeful life.
This episode is a heartfelt call to action: to care for ourselves as a radical act of self-liberation and collective healing.
Redefining Self-Care: From Balance to Nourishment
Steff starts by challenging the overused notion of “balance,” emphasizing that striving for balance under oppressive systems like capitalism is unrealistic. Instead, she invites us to consider what nourishment and soothing could look like in our daily lives.
Key Points:
Forget balance: Focus on creating ease and nourishment that align with your needs.
Rest is not something we must earn. It’s a fundamental part of well-being.
Start small: Honor your body’s signals, even something as simple as taking a bathroom break when needed.
The Power of Showing Up Authentically
The hosts reflect on how societal pressures shape our identities, often tying self-worth to productivity or roles. Steff advocates for reconnecting with our true selves by asking, “Who am I, apart from my roles and achievements?”
Key Points:
Introduce yourself authentically: Share who you are beyond your work or relationships.
Ask yourself: How do I want to feel? Start there to build sustainable self-care practices.
Creating Space for Ease in a World of Overwhelm
Kim, Louise, and Steff agree that the cognitive load many of us carry is overwhelming. Steff emphasizes that mindfulness isn’t about emptying your mind but creating space between thoughts to find ease.
Key Strategies:
Write it down: Free your mind from tasks or worries by jotting them on paper.
Embrace silence: Whether it’s turning off the radio during a drive or doing housework without earbuds, these moments allow us to reconnect with ourselves.
Collective Healing Starts with the Self
Steff and Kim highlight the ripple effect of self-care, explaining that nourishing ourselves is an act of community care. If we’re not kind and soothing to ourselves, we can’t show up in the energy the world needs.
Key Points:
Self-care as liberatory care: It’s about more than bubble baths; it’s reclaiming your energy for collective impact.
Mitigate harm: By caring for ourselves, we reduce the unintentional harm we might cause others.
Moving Forward with Intention
As the episode concludes, the hosts and Steff discuss practical ways to shift from overwhelm to intentional living. Steff’s advice is clear: Start small, stay authentic, and prioritize nourishment over perfection.
Takeaways:
Ease is found in the spaces between thoughts. Create those spaces by slowing down.
Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s foundational for showing up in the world authentically and compassionately.
Change starts within: By focusing on our inner well-being, we create ripples of positive impact in the world around us.
This episode will leave you inspired to rethink self-care, reclaim your energy, and embrace the power of nourishing yourself as an act of liberation.
Key Takeaways
Self-Liberation as Self-Care: Traditional self-care has become white noise; it’s time to reframe it as liberatory care that centers on nourishing and soothing ourselves.
Ask the Right Questions: Begin with “How do I want to feel?” and allow your answers to guide small, intentional steps toward ease and alignment.
Redefining Rest: Explore the seven types of rest (physical, emotional, creative, etc.) and discover what soothes your unique energy without needing to “earn” it.
Creating Space: Silence can be uncomfortable but necessary for reconnecting with yourself. Start small—turn off the radio during your commute or ditch the earbuds while doing housework.
Collective Healing Starts Within: True community care begins with showing up for yourself. By mitigating harm within, you create space to engage with the world in healthier, more impactful ways.
Key Moments
[00:03] Introduction and celebrating bold moves
[06:26] Honoring humanity in a year of transition
[12:29] Self care vs. liberatory care
[16:39] Who are you outside the labels?
[23:28] The power of silence and creating space
[27:33] Redefining rest
[32:18] Mitigating harm as collective care
[39:13] The overwhelm of cognitive load
[44:28] Radical self-nourishment
[50:07] Collective liberation starts within
Connect with Steff Gallante
Instagram: @steffgallante
Website: steffgallante.com
Podcast: Humaning: The Shit We Need to Talk About
