Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga is a yoga practice that focuses on relaxation and stillness. It involves holding poses for longer periods of time to help the body release tension and find balance."Restorative yoga" is slower than other types of yoga, such as slow flow.Restorative Yoga is the practice of asanas, each held for longer than in conventional yoga as exercise classes, often with the support of props such as folded blankets, to relax the body, reduce stress, and often to prepare for pranayama. The practice was foreshadowed by Iyengar Yoga's use of props in its deliberate style of asana practice.

Key Benefits of Restorative Yoga:

Deep relaxation – Activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress.
Improved flexibility – Passive stretching helps release tension without force.
Better sleep – Encourages rest and recovery, aiding in sleep quality.
Emotional balance – Supports mindfulness and emotional well-being.
Pain relief – Can help with chronic pain by promoting relaxation and gentle movement.

Restorative Yoga Benefits

Reduces Stress – Calms the nervous system, lowering stress levels and promoting relaxation.
Improves Sleep – Helps with insomnia by promoting deep relaxation and calming the mind.
Relieves Pain – Aids in recovery from injuries and reduces chronic pain like back pain or arthritis.
Enhances Flexibility – Gently stretches muscles and connective tissues without strain.
Boosts Immune System – Reduces stress and inflammation, helping the body heal and defend against illness.
Promotes Emotional Balance – Encourages mindfulness and emotional healing, easing anxiety and depression.
Improves Circulation – Enhances blood flow, helping with detoxification and overall health.
Supports Digestion – Reduces stress-related digestive issues, supporting smoother digestion.

Restorative yoga is known for its reliance on props such as bolsters, blocks, or folded blankets to make poses gentler and more supportive. That said, you can also practice any restorative yoga poses without the use of props.In general, you can expect to hold poses in restorative yoga for a minimum of 5 minutes. If you want to hold a pose for longer, you can do so, as long as it feels comfortable. Some people hold restorative poses for 20 minutes or more.

Poses

Supported Childs Pose

A "Supported Child's Pose" is a restorative yoga pose where you perform a standard child's pose while resting your torso on a bolster or stack of blankets, providing significant support to your lower back and allowing for deeper relaxation and stress release

Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)

Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose) is an intermediate level yoga asana performed in the supine position. The name is derived from the Sanskrit words supta, meaning "reclining", baddha, meaning "bound", kona, meaning "angle", and 'asana' means 'posture' respectively.

Legs Up the Wall Pose

Legs-up-the-Wall Pose is an inversion yoga pose, which means the hips and heart are above the head. It's often used in Hatha, Yin, or restorative yoga classes, but you can also do it on your own.

Bridge Pose

A Supported Bridge Pose, is a restorative yoga pose where you lie on your back with bent knees, lift your hips off the ground using your feet, and then rest your hips on a bolster or block to create a gentle backbend while allowing your chest and shoulders to open up without much strain.

Savasana Pose

If you’ve taken a yoga class before, you’ve most likely done Savasana, or Corpse Pose. It’s the one where you lie on your back and embrace stillness for a while, typically to close off practice as a final rest.

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