Restore Through Movement

Or, might I say, the lack thereof.

What is restorative yoga?

Restorative yoga is a gentle + mindful movement practice that utilizes longer posture holds and many support props to invite the release of muscle tightness and relaxation of the whole person. The goal is to create comfort by supporting the structural body with props and bringing ease + calm to the thoughts and mind.

How does restorative yoga work?

Something uncanny happens when you decrease the noise around you and within you. When you become still, all of a sudden, your sense body becomes so attuned to your internal space that you feel your pulse so strong in your toes that you swear your heart lives in your foot or you slowly begin to feel, one by one, each hair raise on your arms. That is the cue that your sensory body has turned inward and your ability to tune into the nuances of your internal landscape is heightened. Also, when your sensory body isn’t taking in a bunch of external cues the parasympathetic leg of the nervous system switches on calming your nerves + your mind and allowing you to decompress from the pressures of your daily life. From this relaxed state spirals all kinds of goodies - better sleep, improved immune function, decreased anxiety, improved blood pressure, etc.

How often should you practice restorative yoga?

In a society where we are constantly connected and always working + going, restorative yoga in an important part of a daily routine. For some, it may create additional stress to try to find 90 minutes to set aside each day (it may be actually impossible). So, learn to creatively weave some type of restorative movement throughout your day allowing 5 minutes here and 30 seconds there. You may close your office door for 1 minute and practice your deep breathing in quiet and, then, lie for 3 minutes flat on the floor with your eyes closed when you get home from work and, finally, you may practice child’s pose for 5 minutes before crawling into bed at the end of the day. Of course, setting aside some time during your week to have a full 60 or 90 minutes of uninterrupted time because - you deserve it!

What are your top 3 restorative movements?

1) Reclined bound angle pose with lots of bolsters to lift the torso 2) Corpse pose with a bolster under the knees + a blanket under the ankles 3) Legs up the wall pose with a strap around the lower leg + a bolster/blanket under the hips