WHAT IS RESTORATIVE YOGA?
Restorative yoga focuses not on stretching the body but practices the art of conscious relaxation through supported yoga poses. This very claiming and soothing practice relies on the use of props such as blankets, cushions, bolsters and blocks to support the body in poses for an extended period which helps to create a passive release through the body, and allows you to deeply relax while feeling supported and held.
As the name suggests, restorative yoga brings the body into a state of healing or restoration. In simple terms, a restorative yoga practice encourages the nervous system to calm into a state of rest. When our nervous system registers safety, it brings us into our parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes a relaxation response and reduces stress in the body. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's ‘rest and digest’ response, helping to slow your heart rate and breathing, and increase blood flow to your vital organs. Restorative yoga helps to nourish us emotionally and spiritually giving us space to process our feelings and emotions with mindfulness and without judgement.
This style of yoga has roots in the yoga of B.K.S. Iyengar, who developed a style of yoga that emphasised the usage of props and allowed students to practice without any strain or pain, ideal for those recovering from injuries or illnesses. Restorative yoga went on to become popular in the United States in the 1970s, mainly thanks to yoga teacher Judith Lasater, who was herself a student of Iyengar and is now a key figure in Restorative Yoga. If you’d like to learn more you can read her book “Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times”. Restorative Yoga helps us to find a non-sleep state, Lasater defines this state as ashunya, the last and most elusive stage of Savasana. It’s a place of profound rest where all thoughts go away and you often come out wondering “What just happened? Where was I?!”
The benefits of Restorative yoga:
improves digestion
calms the nervous system
boosts immunity
releases muscular tension, improving mobility & flexibility
teaches you the art of conscious rest
creates a sense of safety in the mind & body
improves sleep quality
boosts your body’s recovery process
provides space to process feelings and emotions
deepens self-awareness and introspections
Almost everyone can practice restorative yoga because it focuses on prop use and modifications mean that the practice can be modified for almost everybody and every need. It supports the individual’s anatomy and focuses on bringing each person to their specific place of comfort.
“We work very hard in our lives, and while we may sleep, we rarely take time to relax. Restorative yoga poses help us learn to rest deeply and completely.”
How Restorative Yoga Differs from Yin Yoga?
While both Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are both slow-paced and stress-relieving yoga practices, they are different. Yin is all about stretching and applying gentle stress to certain tissues. Restorative Yoga is all about supporting your body, allowing it to relax deeply and heal.
Restorative Yoga originates from B.K.S. Iyengar and was created to help people recover from injuries and other health issues. Props are used to help your body feel fully supported and there may be some passive stretching. One goal is to help your muscles release.
Yin Yoga originates from Paul Greeley and incorporates some Traditional Chinese Medicine principles. This practice focuses more on releasing the connective tissue as opposed to the muscles.
Restorative Yoga summed up
It brings the body into a state of healing - In Restorative Yoga, the combination of supportive props and longer holds can help bring a sense of calm and comfort that encourages our body’s healing mechanisms that are rooted in our nervous system.
Postures are held for 5-20 minutes - On average it takes around 15 minutes for our body to physiologically ‘let go’, and release, so the longer we hold poses the more the body can physically and mentally relax fully.
Props are used a lot - In order to make sure that the body is supported properly, props are used heavily. They don’t just support the body physically, but they also help to create a sense of comfort and support helping you feel safer and held.