The Benefits of Restorative Yoga for Stress Relief and Relaxation

Restorative yoga is a unique and nurturing practice that provides individuals with the opportunity to destress and gently relax into various postures. This form of yoga emphasizes the use of props, such as blankets, bolsters, and blocks, to support the body in a way that promotes deep relaxation and comfort. Unlike more vigorous styles of yoga that focus on strength and flexibility, Restorative yoga invites practitioners to slow down and cultivate a sense of peace and tranquility.

The Beginnings of Restorative Yoga

The asanas (postures) in restorative yoga are deeply rejuvenating. Geeta Iyengar (daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar) is credited with creating restorative yoga. Geeta found that many people weren’t able to practice so-called “traditional” yoga due to illness, injuries, or other physical limitations. She began using props such as blankets, blocks, the wall, a chair, or anything else she could find to support the body. This developed into a form of yoga that supports the body in postures that are held for at least several minutes, allowing you to melt into relaxation.

Supported Child's Pose

The Benefits of Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga is a deeply passive practice that uses props to support the body, allowing muscles to relax completely. By eliminating muscular effort, it shifts your autonomic nervous system from "fight-or-flight" (sympathetic) to "rest-and-digest" (parasympathetic), which promotes profound mental, physical, and emotional recovery. 

In restorative yoga, each posture is held for five to fifteen minutes, allowing the body to release tension and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces stress and promotes calmness. Incorporating mindful breathing enhances relaxation, fostering deeper body and mind awareness, connection, and introspection. This practice supports physical relaxation, emotional healing, and mental clarity, benefiting those dealing with daily stress, recovery from injury, illness, surgery, or trauma. Restorative yoga provides a safe space for healing, promoting balance and well-being by encouraging stillness and presence.

Waterfall Pose

Key Benefits of Restorative Yoga

The key benefits of Restorative Yoga include:

Stress Relief

Restorative yoga decreases the stress hormone (cortisol), lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. It triggers the relaxation response by helping the body recover from the toxic effects of everyday chronic stress.

Physical Healing & Deep Release

Restorative yoga releases tension by targeting deeply held muscular and fascial tightness without the need to engage or stretch muscles. It's highly recommended for recovering from injuries, surgeries, and intense physical training. Restorative yoga also reduces chronic pain, so it's beneficial for headaches, arthritis, and back pain.

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

By calming the mind and body, restorative yoga naturally helps alleviate insomnia and racing thoughts. It can help with processing suppressed emotions safely.

Improved Digestive, Immune, and Endocrine Functions

The enhanced healing states of restorative yoga are linked to improved digestive function. Since the nervous, endocrine and immune systems are constantly working together, by triggering the relaxation response, you'll support regulation of the immune and endocrine systems as well.

Several Yoga Props

Props You’ll Need

• 1 yoga mat

• 1 or more rectangular bolsters

• 3 or more Mexican blankets

• 1 yoga strap

• 1 or more yoga blocks

• 1 eye pillow (optional)

• Essential oil of your choice (optional)

  
  

You can substitute common household items for these props, so that you don’t have to purchase them. For example, use a bathrobe belt for a yoga strap, a pillowcase for the eye pillow, household towels or blankets of the same size in place of the Mexican blankets, a chair or sofa cushion for the bolster, or a few throw pillows.

My Restorative Yoga class is ideal for anyone living with chronic stress, an injury, illness, or limited mobility. We meet Monday evenings from 6:00-7:00 pm MT on Zoom (so you practice this from the comfort of your home), beginning Monday, October 12th. Classes are donation based, so tip what you'd like. Go here to sign up for a class.

Come relax and unwind with me!