Restorative Yoga - Yoga for Deep Relaxation (4-Week Series)

Restore and rebalance with Yoga for Deep Relaxation; the antidote to stress is relaxation!

Restorative yoga, guided meditation, and breathing practices help to calm the mind and nervous system, relieving chronic stress. 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.

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 steady, relaxed, still, and centered even in the most challenging times.

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.

This 4-Week Series is an invitation to...

• create sacred space for yourself in the comfort of your own home.
• connect with yourself, finding balance and harmony.
• slow down, turn inward and reflect, practicing presence, awareness and acceptance.
• let go, cleansing and releasing what no longer serves you.
• restore through nourishing deep relaxation practices.
• rebalance, finding inner stillness to cultivate a clear peaceful mind.
• cultivate a compassionate heart, and a mind and body that are free from fear, worry, tension and stress.

Within Each Session

Sessions 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 directing it to different areas of the body; and explore guided meditation and visualization finding inner stillness.

Benefits of Restorative Yoga

Taking time each day to restore and rebalance is essential to well-being. These practices are especially beneficial for anyone feeling anxious, overwhelmed or scattered, and at times when your energy is depleted related to major life events or challenges (marriage, divorce, death of a loved one, pregnancy loss, infertility, moving, career change etc). Restorative yoga assists in reducing the effects of chronic stress and fatigue, supports recovery from illness or injury; and creates overall feelings of well-being. To learn more about the benefits of restorative yoga, click here.

Practices for connection, grounding and calming are so important. Learning how to cultivate self-care and create a healing space for yourself is relevant now more than ever. Join me to restore and rebalance!

Suggested Yoga Props

• A yoga mat or comfortable surface.
• A wall to support your back while seated and/or to elevate legs.
• 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 a pillow to support your head and neck.
• 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 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, you could aim to create a support of 8-12” wide, 24-28” long and about 6” thick. Otherwise, 3-4 firm woven blankets (large bath or beach towels) stacked can work in place of a bolster.
• For 1-2 restorative sessions, I suggest having 6 firm woven blankets or 2 bolsters.
• Two foam or cork yoga blocks (or similar prop) to elevate height of bolster.
• A folding chair, dining chair, ottoman or surface of standard sitting height to elevate your legs.
• An adjustable yoga strap (scarf or tie).
• Optional: A sandbag

Prop Tutorial - In this video, I give an overview of yoga props. We want to support our body in all restorative poses, but also in meditation so that we can relax, and even in our movement practices to create softness. Use of restorative props provide complete support to create nurturing physical postures of ease and comfort. I review the props used within a studio setting, as well as household items that can be used as substitutes while practicing at home.

Details

• This is a 4-Week Series: Wed Nov 24th - Dec 15th
• Please feel free to contact me by email with any series questions at colleen@wanderwithin.ca, I would be happy to discuss with you.
• You will receive an email following registration with the zoom link and information for setting up your practice space.