What is Restorative Yoga?

What is Restorative Yoga?

Restorative Yoga is often referred to as the art of active relaxation. It is a therapeutic form of yoga which utilizes props  and supports to make it less complicated for your body to get into certain poses, and consequently, you are able to surrender to the pose.

Practicing poses using props offers a completely supportive environment for complete relaxation. The more your body is supported in the poses the deeper you can attain total relaxation. Relaxation is usually described as a state in which there’s no movement, no effort, plus the mind is calm. Usually, Restorative poses are sustained for 10 minutes or for as long as you’re comfortable in that pose.

Restorative Yoga versus Normal Yoga

Restorative Yoga is the term used to describe a way of doing yoga postures which allows your body to be completely supported as you practice. It differs from ‘normal’ yoga for the reason that when we do Restorative Yoga we be aware of ‘letting go’, to giving the supports we’ve got in place around our body our whole weight to ensure our muscle groups can completely relax. In ‘normal’ yoga we’re ‘holding’ postures in poses by contracting our muscle groups to hold our body in certain shapes.

In ‘normal yoga’ may use a support to assist us expand a greater stretch or to allow for more comfort (like using a strap to help us lift a leg up) but we aren’t focusing on giving our total body weight over into the support so that we can let go of as much muscle stress as possible. Judith Lasater, a renowned Restorative Yoga expert, calls Restorative Yoga ‘active relaxation’ relating the activity in our minds as we give our awareness to attaining that total relaxation in these various postures and poses.

Why should I practice Restorative Yoga?

Modern life and a busy lifestyle keeps our bodies in a continually stressed state, our quality of life and perhaps even life itself is at risk. During times of continued stress the body’s ability to cure itself can be compromised. Being in a stressed state inhibits our bodies  healing from injuries or ailment, or it might produce new illness or injury. These possible aliments can include hypertension (high blood pressure), ulcers, lumbar pain (back pain), immune disorder and depressive illnesses.

The antidote to stress and tension is relaxation. Restorative Yoga focuses on relaxing, regeneration, effortlessness and ease. Blankets, bolsters, straps, and further props and supports carefully prop up the body in various postures which allows the body to move in direction of a state of balance. This exercise soothes your nervous system, makes it possible to calm your mind and invites you to release deeply held stress aiding healing.

Restorative Yoga and Breath Focus.

Restorative poses and postures encourages that we give attention to being aware of our bodily functions. Special consideration given to our mind focusing on the breath and the way we breathe. During practice, when you notice your mind wandering and focusing on other distractions, bring it back to your breath and your breathing.

You should also give attention to where and the way you hold tension in your body. Take note of which muscles are last to let go and relax, these will likely be where you hold tension and stress in the body. Then use the breath and your breathing techniques as a device to free the tension. Breathe to the area of tension and on the exhale release the tension. During these periods of deep relaxation you will be healed and nurtured from within.

Is Restorative Yoga Adaptable?

Restorative Yoga is an incredibly adaptable form of yoga. Once you have mastered the basic techniques you can use it as much or as little as you like. You could use it a little bit when you feel tired yet still desire to do your normal yoga practice or you might use it a great deal if you choose to assist you pass though an illness or support yourself through a hectic or particularly stressful time in your life.

If you enjoyed this article you might also enjoy Restorative Yoga – The Relaxation Response.

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