Restorative Yoga - Relax & Renew

Taking time each day to relax and renew is essential to well-being. Restorative yoga explores the capacity to relax deeply, to understand the body and mind more intimately, and to open your heart more fully to love. When our body relaxes instead of constricts, our entire being integrates – body, mind, breath, and spirit. Rather than working on changing anything, we can simply allow ourselves to surrender, completely letting go.

Use of restorative props provide complete support to create nurturing physical postures of ease and comfort. By supporting the body with props, we alternately stimulate and relax the body to move toward balance. Layers of tension melt away as you learn to be present; when deep relaxation is realized, healing can happen on many levels.

Restorative yoga, guided meditation, and breathing practices help to calm the mind and nervous system, relieving chronic stress. By activating our rest, digest and repair response (parasympathetic nervous system) our body rebalances internally. With regular practice, our body and mind gain the capacity to stay relaxed and centered even in the most challenging times.

These practices are especially beneficial at times when your energy is depleted related to major life events (marriage, divorce, death of a loved one, pregnancy loss, infertility, moving, career change etc..) and when feeling overwhelmed. Restorative yoga assists in reducing the effects of chronic stress and fatigue, and creates overall feelings of well-being.

The effect of this sequence is relaxing, grounding and nourishing! Practices for connection, grounding and calming are so important. Learning how to cultivate self-care and to create a healing space for yourself is relevant more now, than ever.

Join me to relax and renew!

Within My Restorative Sessions

I often begin with mindful movement to shift energy and to warm and relax the body. We practice supported restorative poses for deep relaxation; connect with our breath and direct it to different areas of the body; and explore guided meditation and visualization finding inner stillness.

Suggested Props

• A yoga mat or comfortable non-slip surface
• An eye pillow (eye mask, scarf, or hand towel) to cover your eyes
• A designated blanket to cover your body for warmth
• A Mexican blanket (firm woven blanket) or pillow to support your head and neck
• A wall to support your back while seated and/or to elevate legs
• Mexican blankets (4-5 firm woven blankets, beach or bath towels) to roll or fold as support under arms, knees, ankles, hips
• It would be beneficial to have 1 rectangular or round bolster. If you don’t have a bolster, you can fold a large comforter/quilt/duvet/blanket to create a similar shape and tie to hold. As a guideline, aim to create a support of 8-10” wide, 28” long, and about 6-9” thick. Otherwise, 3-4 firm woven blankets (thick beach or bath towels) stacked can work in place of a bolster, for most poses.
• Two foam or cork yoga blocks, 4” thick x 6” wide x 9” long (or similar prop) to create height when needed. You want to be able to support your body weight.
• An adjustable yoga strap, 2” wide x 8’ long (long scarf or 2 neckties tied together)
• Optional: A sandbag

To learn more about the many benefits of restorative yoga and to watch my prop tutorial, click here.