For some, the relentless rings, chimes, and dings stemming from our screens serve as a jarring soundtrack to busy, non-stop days. The constant reminders include many needs from the outside world. Appointments, responses, and answers demand our time and focus. At the same time, we’re also moving, going, and doing. The over-scheduled, busy person is part of our culture. Think of how many times the question, “How are you?” is answered with, “I’m so busy!” As the day comes to an end, our bodies and minds yearn for rest. Whether we realize it or not, it’s a biological need to rest.
We acknowledge rest-stop signs on long road trips. Do we stop to rest during our demand-filled days?
Kim Frey, the owner of The Body Shop Movement Studio describes the state of our society stating, “Part of the problem with our society is overproduction. It’s the grind culture. It’s this idea of. I always have to go, go, go and do do do.”
The studio offers a wide variety of yoga classes, including the more restorative Yin yoga. They also offer sound healing. Frey and the studio’s sound healer, Jeanette Lewis, share their thoughts and sounds on rest:
More Antidotes to Overstimulation
Dr. Sarah Lipson, Professor of Public Health at Boston University wrote an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education , The Overstimulated College Student: Mental Health Challenges in a Digital World. She says, “College students today face unprecedented levels of overstimulation from constant digital engagement, academic pressure, and social expectations. This overload keeps their nervous systems in a state of chronic stress, making it harder for them to focus, relax, and recharge.”
Rest and restorative activities can serve as a much needed prescription and antidote to overstimulation and stress.
Stephan Kaplan’s article in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, The Restorative Benefits of Nature: Toward an Integrative Framework, shares, “The idea of quiet, natural settings promotes a state of calmness and has shown to reduce physiological arousal and sympathetic nervous system activity.”
Dr. Marc Berman, an Environmental Neuroscientist at the University of Chicago wrote a book called, Nature and the Mind. In the book’s excerpt, Berman’s identifies “the elements of a ‘nature prescription’ that can boost your energy, sharpen your focus, change your mood, and improve your mental and physical health. He also reveals how central attention is to all of these functions, and how interactions with nature can restore it.”
When it comes to nature, the good news is we don’t have to look too far here in Central Texas!
San Marcos, Texas and the surrounding areas, offer a variety of opportunities to rest and tune down the stimulation. Green spaces and cool waters are weave in and out of New Braunfels through San Marcos. Students (and anyone else who is stressed out, overstimulated, and zapped from technology overload) can find rest and a sense of calm.
Open Spaces, Parks, and Trails
The City of San Marcos offers a variety of natural settings that evoke a sense of purposeful silence. Leaves shimmer in the sun and break the quiet with soft swishing sounds. Babbling waterfalls create soothing, playful sounds and a cooling respite. Six natural areas include more than 1,200 acres of open space and 22 miles of trails. All provide a reprieve from the day-to-day bombardment of stressors and stimuli.
An award-winning, all volunteer non-profit, The San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, maintains many of these spaces. They also provide helpful information for the public. Their website states, “Each natural area has its own personality and attraction”. The Alliance provides descriptions, helpful tips, photos, downloadable maps, and interactive maps focused on the trails and parks.
San Marcos is home to many hiking trails for beginner through intermediate hikers. The city, in partnership with the Greenbelt Alliance, provides interactive and downloadable maps for hikers. The maps are helpful in identifying locations, points of interest, trailheads, and difficulty.
Explore this interactive map below (or use this link) that includes locations, downloadable trail maps, and direct links to the trail or park.
The Rivers
New Braunfels and San Marcos thrive as destination, water-recreation spots for locals and tourists. Tubing and partying often dominate the rivers during high season. Yet, ample opportunities exist for restful experiences near or on the water. For anytime of the year, the San Marcos River Parks website provides a rich FAQ covering topics like hours, rules, food and beverages allowed, and access points. To avoid tourism and crowds, the best time to take advantage of the rivers is during the off-season.
The rivers around the San Marcos area provide space for restful activities like sunbathing, picnicking, reading, journaling, or simply doing nothing at all. Looking for that perfect spot might require a short hike or research ahead of time.
Canoes, kayaks, and tubes allow for a passive or participatory activity. Holly Orr, owner of Texas Canoes and Kayaks in San Marcos shared her thoughts in a phone interview discussing nature and rest. “Just being in nature, away from civilization and finding a quiet place is good for anyone.” Orr also explains that water-goers can find islands along the way to stop and take in the scenery, but to be mindful of private property.
Hidden Gems and Treasured Places
New Braunfels is also home to Landa Park. New Braunfels resident, Gina Franke is effusive with her love for the Park, “I love LOVE Landa Park! Especially at Christmastime with everything lit up!”
A phone call to the New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department resulted in a conversation with Administrative Assistant, Alyssa Sterling. She shared how Landa Park provides rest and relaxation to anyone who visits. “The park has huge trees for shade, a shaded pavilion to sit by the water, and lots of benches.” Sterling said that adjacent to the park is Panther Canyon, home of two, one-mile hiking trails. “Panther Canyon is so peaceful. It’s in the middle of the city, but it feels private and secluded.”
Back in San Marcos, the Discovery Center offers a couple of hidden gems for rest and relaxation: the Bird Viewing Station at Schulle Canyon and the Grotto on Malacoda Trail in Purgatory Creek Natural Area.
One surprising and hidden nook is Texas State University Honors College’s Hammock Haven. According to their website page, “The Honors Hammock Haven is a shared space located on the second floor of Lampasas, between Lampasas and ASBN. A Nido “Weaver” hammock structure, paid for by a grant from the Environmental Service Committee, stands in what used to be an enclosed patio space. The structure allows 8-10 hammocks to be hung up at the same time. Everyone is encouraged to visit the space, hang up their hammock or hang out in the hammocks provided by the Honors College.”
Indigo Maheddin, a freshman at TXST, takes a rest in the hammocks provided on the 2nd floor landing of the Lampasas building. Indigo is majoring in political science and commutes from N. Austin (two reasons for a nap)! 
Warisha Ali, originally from Pakistan, and Namira Mehzabin from Bangladesh, currently reside in Houston. They took a day trip to San Marcos to “get away from life!” Both sit on a bench overlooking the San Marcos River at Rio Vista Park. The kayaker, unknown, enjoys the beautiful fall day. 
Michael Jackson from New Braunfels, hikes toward the bird-watching tower on Warbler Creek in Schulle Canyon Natural Area. 
Michael Jackson arrives at the bird watching gazebo/hut on Warbler trail. The San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance built the structure and provided helpful birding information. 
Several birdhouses hang on the trees, beckoning visitors. New Braunfels resident Michael Jackson, takes a Sunday break. Unfortunately, he didn’t see any birds, but the surrounding nature made up for it! 
Rhinoak on Dante’s Trail within the Purgatory Creek Natural Area is perfectly named! The tree, shaped like a rhinoceros is definitely a reason to pause and smile! 
These perfectly balanced rocks between two tree trunks on a trail in the Purgatory Creek Natural area scream (quietly) serene, zen, and calm! 
Clara Jackson and Ricardo Hernandez enjoy a leisurely walk along the trail at Purgatory Creek Natural Area. Michael Jackson (in the foreground) watches butterflies through the iron fence. 
First time hiker Randy Garcia, seems more pro than novice with her walking stick and gear. On her way back from the Overlook on Dante’s trail in Purgatory Creek Natural Area, she was in good spirits with another 20 minutes to go! 
Rodriguez Elementary PE teacher Tiffany Lopez, and Special Ed teacher, Jose Manzano, returned from the beautiful Grotto on Malacoda Trail. Both were scoping out the area for a future school field trip. Pro tip: closest parking lot to the Malacoda Grotto is Lower Purgatory Parking! 
The Malacoda Grotto is well worth the 2.5 mile hike from Upper Purgatory Parking, down Dante’s trail, and cutting along the Malacoda Trail. The formations, archways, and light bouncing off of trees and rock create a cocoon-like feeling. 
Landa Park’s natural pond is great for leisurely fishing activities. The unknown fisherman quietly waited for a bite! 
Five friends dressed up in garden style dresses, enjoy a picnic brunch at Landa Park. The beautiful gem of New Braunfels provides green spaces, tables, and benches for plenty of leisurely lounging. 
Three Hispanic women, who spoke very little English, but were very sweet to allow a photograph, visited with each other as they took in the Landa Park pond and trees.
Restorative Spaces
If the weather is uncooperative or nature doesn’t seem too appealing, then a Yin or Restorative Yoga class is a way to reset a frayed and smoldering nervous system.
National Board Certified Health Coach and yoga instructor, Laura Falli, work includes helping others find solutions specific to their needs. Falli responded to a question via text about how to manage stress through yoga. She shared her views on the power of Yin yoga and the breath. Interestingly, her response echoed Kim Frey’s views. Falli responded, “In our culture, especially as Americans, we’re go, go, go, always producing, always doing. It leaves us unbalanced. So, we need to draw ourselves down to counteract that. Yin is a slow meditative, inward practice.”
Yoga studios offering Yin and Restorative yoga include Wild Rice Studios, Body Shop Texas, and Laurel Grace Yoga. Borrowing from some of the basic Yin practices, according to both Falli and Frey, can be beneficial to anyone. (Photo: Body Shop TX yoga instructor, Jeanette Lewis, demonstrates a pose in Yin Yoga.)
Falli shared further guidance, “To calm the central nervous system, there is a breath. You inhale through the nose, exhale through the nose. On the inhale, count five and a half seconds and then exhale for five and a half seconds.”
To better understand the differences between Yin and Restorative, it’s important to look at what one is doing in the practice. This comparison provides an overview of key elements:
In conclusion, a 5.5 second breath and a rest-stop for our bodies and minds will ensure balance in our busy lives. And, there are plenty of places to rest in San Marcos, TX! In fact, this chart shows how many options residents and visitors alike have at their disposal. Take time for yourself and rest!
