Restorative yoga
Restoration of mind and body through deep relaxation (using props)
Restorative Yoga was developed in the 1970s by Judith Hanson Lasater. She was a student of B.K.S. Iyengar (1918-2014), considered one of the foremost yoga instructors in the world. Lasater noticed how Iyengar used props to help yogis reach the exact alignment and ease into a posture.
She developed the use of props to help her students relax in the postures and reach a relaxation deep enough to affect the body and mind profoundly.
Deep relaxation stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells the body that it is safe and can focus on restoration. With this stimulation's help, Restorative Yoga reaches its goal of counteracting everyday stress's physical and mental effects. Restorative Yoga helps to reduce stress. It can also help diminish stress symptoms such as headaches, backaches, anxiety, and insomnia.
The postures must be held for quite some time to reach deep relaxation and allow the parasympathetic nervous system to kick in. Therefore, a class in Restorative Yoga typically encompasses a few postures. Each one is held for five minutes up to as long as thirty minutes. It would help if you held the posture until you feel satisfied and reach the feeling of melting or merging with the posture. This is why props are a central part of Restorative Yoga: you will not reach that merging sensation if you feel the slightest discomfort. Because of this, you should spend some time getting into the posture and using props to feel completely comfortable. When you are, you should focus on your breathing and be mindfully present in the here and now.
Considering the high tempo of modern life, this can be hard to do. Because of the mental adjustment needed in Restorative Yoga, some even consider it the most advanced of all yoga styles. Specifically, because of this adjustment, Restorative Yoga is an excellent complement to more active yoga styles and a way to rejuvenate and renew the body and mind. Learn restorative yoga online.
Benefits of Restorative Yoga
- Creates stillness in body and mind
- Significantly reduces stress
- Offers deep relaxation
- Stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing for recuperation
- Revitalizes the tissues of the body
- Increases the ability to be present in the moment
- It teaches us to let ourselves go completely
1 Program
Whole30 Yoga Practice Program
Want to bring more movement into your life? This program gives you 30 days of yoga, movement, breathing and mindfulness, one class a day. It started as a companion to the Whole30 timeline, but anyone can start it on any day.
The classes come from across Yogateket's library and teachers, so you get to try a bit of everything:
- Week 1 mixes a steady Vinyasa flow like A Well Rounded Class with an evening wind-down in Halftime: Winding Down, the Loving Kindness Meditation and your first Simple Breathing Practice.
- Week 2 brings standing work in Yoga 20: Stand Tall, passive backbends in Lean Back and Relax: Passive Backbends, the first strength workout, Let's Begin, and Yoga for the Face.
- Week 3 goes from the gentle Easy Flow to Short Ashtanga Practice and Deep Relaxation Practice.
- Week 4 builds strength with 15 Minute Core and Strengthen Your Hamstrings, and slows down with Meditation for A Restless Mind.
- Week 5 ends with Jump into Malasana and Hips and Shoulders.
The classes are 10 to 60 minutes long, mostly level 1-2. Keep a pair of blocks nearby.