The Blessings of the practice

Restorative Yoga is a meditative practice that uses props like chairs, blocks, straps, sandbags, bolsters, and blankets to totally support the body, enabling the release of mind and body tension. It is a slow-paced practice of asanas where each pose is held for longer than in conventional yoga, sometimes for twenty minutes, so a session may consist of only four to six asanas. This allows the body to release deep tension passively, without active stretch. Classes are necessarily small so that each person can receive detailed attention, feel safe and properly supported. Under the guidance of a qualified and experienced teacher, it is a powerful practice and can help a student to restore the body back to its normal flexibility and mobility.

Restorative Yoga can be highly beneficial to speed up the healing process of the body after injury or prolonged inactivity. By gently moving the body, and supporting it comfortably in various asanas, It also helps to increase blood circulation, detoxification and prevent the formation of excessive scar tissue.

The practice was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar in order to help people with injuries or illnesses, enabling them to experience the profound healing benefits of yoga without placing their bodies under too much stress. Iyengar encouraged the use of props and modified asanas to allow the body to relax into poses. “We work very hard in our lives, and while we may sleep, we rarely take time to relax. Restorative yoga poses help to rest deeply and completely” says Judith Hanson Lasater, who has developed Restorative Yoga further.

The practice also helps to relieve chronic stress by providing an environment for total relaxation. A Restorative Yoga practice is the antithesis of the “no-pain-no-gain” mentality. Restorative yoga doesn’t do force. It’s about releasing, surrendering and compassion toward ourselves.

Difference between Restorative & Yin

Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are often considered to be similar practices, but there are many differences between the two.

• Stretch: In yin yoga, there is an active stretch but in restorative yoga, the goal is to be 100% supported and passive with no active stretch.

• Focus: In yin yoga, the focus is on stretching your connective tissues but in restorative yoga, the focus is on the passive release of mind-body tension.

• Props: Both styles may use props but in yin yoga, if props are used, they are used to either deepen or soften the stretch. In restorative yoga, props are used to completely support your body. Generally, restorative yoga will use far more props than yin

• Poses: Yin yoga poses are held for about 3-5 minutes, while restorative yoga poses are held for anywhere from 5-10 minutes.

The most interesting aspect of both these styles of yoga is they teach you to feel. Rather than rushing through asanas from breath to breath, Restorative and Yin Yoga both cultivate a powerful inner awareness. You notice sensations in the body and the energy running through it. You become aware of subtle changes in the body and mind, during the practice and in daily life too!

Both Yin and Restorative Yoga are a great balance to the busyness of life and strong yang yoga practices. They both support the deeper aspects of yoga, the mental, emotional and pranic bodies.