Restorative yoga is deep relaxation, it focuses on the meditative benefits of yoga. It’s truly a journey that guides the body into fully letting go, to allow the mind to do the same, releasing tension in every way possible.
The efforts of this practice are directed only to paying attention to your instructor, to your body, holding the poses, and using the props in the best way to enhance the moment, dedicated to being present.
This is a practice that in no way brings strain or pain, it is extremely gentle and slow-paced, facilitated by props to provide comfort and support as asanas are held for extended periods.
Yoga, as well as other physical practices, sometimes can move towards aerobic, athletic or acrobatic exercises. Restorative yoga is the complete opposite. There is no real muscle engagement as the focus actually goes to relaxing the muscles and sometimes to facilitating a light stretch. The biggest difference with other styles is the props and the amount of time each asana takes up. You can expect to use many props to support the body and facilitate each one of the yoga poses, which are held anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. So in some cases, one class can be made up of only 5 asanas.
You will probably like Restorative yoga if:
- You are beginning your yoga practice
- Your goal is to turn off the mind and release tension and stress
- A light stretch with minimum physical effort is what you’re looking for
- Deep muscle relaxation is important to you
- You practice another kind of physical excercise and want to complement your fitness by caring for your muscles and going gentle on your joints
This style welcomes all levels of practitioners and all kinds of athletes looking for an alternative to their own discipline.
By allowing proper space and time for holding asanas and deepening the breath, you can restore your body to its parasympathetic nervous system function, bringing balance, rest and healing. This relaxation response reduces cortisol levels, which supports you in letting go of stress and anxiety. In addition, be sure that you’ll get better sleep time like no other after a restorative yoga class, there is nothing like ending your day with one of these journeys and going straight to bed. Consistent practice will also help you bring vitality to the connective tissues around your bones and joints.
Developed by Judith Lasater in the 1970s, this is a style that takes its foundations from the teachings of B.K.S Iyengar.
Restorative Yoga is built upon the teachings of B.K.S Iyengar. It was developed in the US in the 1970s by Judith Lasater who studied under Iyengar. Its purpose lies in recovering from sickness or injuries, which can be facilitated by its effects of relieving anxiety, headaches, insomnia, and stress-related symptoms. This is achieved by keeping physical effort to the minimum and prioritizing relaxation and healing.
