The Gift of Restorative Yoga
There’s a common misconception that Restorative Yoga is just an easier Yoga practice, designed for those who aren’t ready to move faster and harder, or hold complex balance poses? When I first came across it, I certainly thought that way – what could be so challenging about not moving? As I soon found out, it can be quite a challenge, requiring a degree of mental discipline.
At its core, Restorative Yoga focuses on whole-body relaxation and release. Something sadly few of us make time for in our busy lives. We human beings are always doing, and rarely spend much time just being. But if you can slow down, make time for rest, you might discover a mental and physical release that you didn’t even know you needed.
What is Restorative Yoga?
Restorative yoga is exactly as it sounds – it brings restoration to your body, mind, and spirit. Most of us believe that speed and sweat are the key to all things fitness, toning our muscles faster, detoxing our bloodstream faster, and burning more calories.
The truth is, however, our bodies also need to slow down and restore.
Restorative Yoga offers many whole-body benefits that all levels of fitness can embrace. It’s not easier, necessarily, it’s just slower, allowing for true release physically and mentally.
How does Restorative Yoga work?
A Restorative class will focus on the connective tissues of the body through postures that are held in stillness and mindful awareness for 3-5 minutes at a time. The long holding of poses and deep, passive stretching is usually assisted with props such as rolled blankets, bolsters, blocks or straps, to ensure the body is fully supported, allowing the muscles to relax.
In eastern philosophy, yin and yang represent balance, or opposite or contrary forces that are actually complementary. In terms of Yoga, an energetic practice such as vinyasa is the yang, and a calming practice like restorative is the yin.
Restorative addresses tightness and toxin build-up in the joints and connective tissue through poses that are equally challenging for the mind and body. The result is not only more flexible joints, but also a greater sense of balance, release, and calm.
10 Benefits of Restorative Yoga
Calms the nervous system
Releases anxiety
Provides balance for the body
Reduces stress hormones
Improves the immune system
Supports better sleep
Increases flexibility
Releases toxin build-up
Promotes mindfulness
Supports weight management
Ultimately, it helps us discover where we’re holding tension, invites the body to rest, and establishes the conditions for the relaxation response to kick in. It pulls us out of “flight or fight” mode and initiates the body’s self-healing process.
Research is now backing what the Yoga community has known anecdotally about the benefits of restorative yoga poses and the science behind Restorative Yoga. A recent study from the University of California, San Diego showed that overweight women who practiced Restorative Yoga had a notable reduction in belly fat, relative to a group of women who engaged in regular stretching. Their theory for why this occurred is connected to cortisol. The stress hormone associated with weight gain is thought to be lowered in a calming practice like restorative.
In essence, Restorative Yoga may have a profound effect on your overall capacity for health and healing. It’s kind of the gift that keeps on giving!
