Restorative Yoga
What if you found a deeply relaxed Bodymind?
Bodymind Joy Restorative Yoga takes the concept of “Rest and Digest” and applies it through the use of props and holding poses longer to engage you in an active, relaxation yoga.
The goal is to move a person from a state of ‘doing’ to a state of ‘being’.
In the pace of the modern world, there are many factors affecting us which constantly pull us into the 4 R’s: Fight, Flight, Freeze or Faint. The tipping point is that many of us don’t even recognize that we are in those heightened modes of life.
Our Stressors need to switch off if we want to gain or even maintain some balanced Health and Well Being.
Restorative practice works because you’re relaxing your muscles, brain (Central nervous system) function, and allowing for openness and receptivity.
It works on undoing the stress and functions like the more active styles of yoga, but typically on a deeper level through your Bodymind systems to shift out of those 4 R’s and into greater Joy!
Scientists don’t fully understand why the practice makes people feel beyond rested but a level of reborn. However, a growing body of evidence suggests it has measurable health benefits.
Study’s showed a six-point-greater drop in blood sugar in a group of pre-diabetics who practiced restorative yoga (at least 30 minutes three times a week for a year) compared with those who did stretching exercises.
Restorative yogis lost two pounds more along with nearly a half-inch more from their waistlines. (2)
Researchers reflected that possibly more mindfulness, relaxation, or better sleep—might be at play.
Restorative Yoga can decrease hot flashes during menopause, back issues, respiratory problems, digestive disorders, neurological aspects, insomnia, headaches, and cancer to name a few. “Long-term practice can also become a buffer to chronic stress,” (3)
A Restorative Yoga Session
Instead of actively stretching your muscles, props—blankets, straps, blocks, firm body pillows or bolsters—are used to fully support your weight and allow your muscles to release completely.
Like a regular Yoga class, breath awareness is there, however, you the focus is on fewer poses held longer; anywhere from 3-5 minutes or more.
The instructor will talk you through each position, adjust where necessary, and then further ensure your comfort with additional props.
As class begins there’s the active stress responses brought with you, but soon (and faster with more practise), there’s a shift.
You have no ambition to move or curiosity about the sounds that occur outside you.
This deep relaxation and inward attention is known in yoga texts as pratyahara—a conscious withdrawal from the senses.
You are just being—something most of us feel too guilty or strung out to do on our own.(4)
Joy found!
My very first class left me feeling like a new woman. The studio space was soothing, with soft music and dimmed lighting. After being led through various completed supported postures like resting my belly on a cylindrical bolster and opening my chest while ever part of me was held in place with blankets and bolsters, I emerged feeling like the tension in my body and especially my back had melted away. After the weeks of stress, it was the first time I felt soft and open. L.H.
After Fiona’s Restorative Yoga class, I felt calm and relaxed. What I did not expect was to actually sleep through the night for the first time in years! I even woke before my 5 a.m. feeling so rested ! P.I. -Delta
My mind generally doesn’t stop. With everything going on, I started the class thinking, about what was going to happen, how much time will each posture take, what is the best way to address the situation at work and on and on. I could not tell you which pose we had moved into, but I realized my mind had taken a break and the chatter was gone. What a wonderful feeling! Thank-you Fiona for helping me experience that. K.J.