Restorative Yoga: Intentional Rest
This past weekend I hosted a restorative class to 7 folks. Assisting you with rolled or folded blankets placed just so is one of the many gifts of teaching. For those of you unfamiliar with restorative yoga, it’s a practice of slowing down, turning inward, and welcoming deep, deep rest.
Restorative Yoga is a practice intended to support relaxation throughout all of our layers ~ musculoskeletal, physiological, mental, emotional, and energetic. A gentle and well supported practice that nurtures inner stillness, rejuvenating rest, and healing. In Yoga - we learn about and practice with a pancha maya kosha model (5 koshas or 5 layers of self. You can read more about that here.
Quieting or regulating the nervous system is what many health and wellness providers refer their patients to me for help with. We do this partially through the practices of restorative yoga, although we don’t always start that way. Often we start with offering ways to be more stable, often using more support, and moving in ways that release a little tension. From a place of less tension we likely can breathe a little better and from there move more easily and again, release another layer of tension.
S T R E S S and chronic TENSION can lead to a physiological response you may know by another name - fight or flight ( fight, flight, freeze, fawn). This serves us well when we need to focus, conserve energy, and react in a way that protects and preserves our safety. Often an analogy of running from a bear is given here or an example of two animals in the wild in a tussle and then cut to the lion resting in the grass after their lunch. We simply aren’t getting the opportunity to settle down, to settle in, to rest and digest on a regular basis.
For our ancestors this was a more appropriate response relative to the danger; however, as we've evolved, fight or flight doesn't discriminate between an immediate threat to life and the stressors of modern day (relational, economic, environmental) resulting in the chronic strain on you and your nervous system. For some, this may include being in a constant state of agitation or on high alert and/or experiencing panic attacks - all of which vary in degree, frequency, and experiences.
Read more about the nervous system.
Restorative Yoga is an approach to practice that promotes and honors the inherent nature within each of us to rest, restore, and reset ourselves. Restorative Yoga may be practiced in a group or private setting. During a restorative session or class you may experience 3 - 4 postures anywhere from 2-3 minutes or up to 20 minutes . During a session, with my assistance and suggestions, you position your body with the support of props (blankets, bolsters/cushions, sandbags, chairs) in variations of asanas (yoga postures) all based on your physical and energetic needs. If new to yoga or are challenged by symptoms of persistent pain or a chronic condition (including PTSD) I would recommend a an introductory series of private yoga therapy sessions.
A Restorative Yoga session can be an entry point to get acquainted with yoga, relieve chronic pain and/or tension, as well as to help you navigate a challenging time with ease. And learn how to bring yoga home.
