When the pace of life is fast, our minds move fast, too. When we are also attracted to a strong, fast-moving yoga practice, we can easily overstimulate ourselves — and our nervous system takes the beating. We may end up feeling easily overwhelmed, tired, with a racing mind. We get sick quicker and more often.
Restorative yoga balances a fast lifestyle and has an enormous capacity to heal physical and mental symptoms that are stress related.
Restorative poses relieve the effects of chronic stress in several ways. Firstly, the use of props provide a supportive environment for total relaxation.
Secondly, each restorative sequence is designed to move the spine in all directions. Healthy spine: healthy you.
Thirdly, a well-sequence Restorative Yoga practive includes an inverted asana (pose), which reverses the effects of gravity (this could simply be putting your legs on a pillow). By changing the relationship of your legs to gravity, fluids are returend to the upper body and your heart function is enhanced.
The beauty of Restorative Yoga is that there is no muscular contraction involved. We believe we have to “work” to increase flexibility, but often we achieve more opening in parts of the body that we perceive as tight by softening and relaxing than through an active asana practice. During a Restorative Yoga sequence, you still stretch, but you relax fully in the stretch so that tension can slowly be released.
Because the body and mind relax, literally becoming softer, we also create space to get in touch again with our natural qualities of compassion and understanding of others and self.
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Blankets are the most important and versatile prop. Spread them on the floor for padding/insulation. Fold them to lift your body from the earth - different ways of folding them create different heights (you can also stack several together). Roll them to create a bolster. Use one to cover yourself if you start to feel cold.
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If you don't have yoga blocks/bricks you can use a pile of stacked books, but make sure they're tied together and secure. Northing worse than being in a gentle supported backbend lifted from the earth by your books to have them tumble to the ground.
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If you don't have an eye pillow, use a folded flannel or maybe fill a sock with rice/flax seeds. Make sure the filing is loose enough that it moulds easily to the natural contours of your eye sockets.
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Pillows, cushions and towels used to support your neck, under your ankles or behind your knees to create room in these joints.
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A wall! We often use a wall in Restorative yoga so clear a wall space or the back of a door.
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If you don't have a yoga strap, use a belt or a scarf.
