Rest, relax, let go… the benefits of restorative yoga

What is Restorative Yoga?

Restorative Yoga is very different to what you may think of as 'yoga', but the benefits are immense to our body, mind and wellbeing. It’s a practise that encourages us to remain still rather than move around a lot as in a yoga flow style class. We remain on the floor in poses, wrapped in a cosy blanket and using props such as bolsters, blocks and pillows to support the body in positions of rest. We stay in each pose for anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes.

The aim of this class is to relax, something that many of us can find really difficult because we live our lives rushing from one activity to the next. Often we focus on how much we can get done in a day. Even in the moments our bodies are still, we might look for distractions and use the spare minutes we have to scroll through social media. But stillness is what the body needs, and what it craves and here’s why…

How can restorative yoga benefit me?

Our body is often in a state of fight or flight or stress because we’re constantly on the go. When we stop and actually rest without distractions, we are allowing our parasympathetic nervous system to ‘switch on’. This part of the nervous system helps us feel calm. In restorative yoga, we are switching that calm mode on by giving the body opportunity to slow down and be still. When our body becomes still our mind will often start to slow down as well so if you struggle with the feeling of a busy brain, restorative yoga can help you to feel less ‘stuck in your head’.

Restorative yoga can also benefit our bodies physically. We don’t stretch or strengthen our bodies in this practise, but we do rest in poses that encourage space in the body. We let go of tension that we hold in the body, sometimes without even realising it, from sitting at desks or in a car, hunching over a screen or simply tightness from being so stressed all of the time. Many people feel their body is more ‘free’ when they’ve practised restorative yoga even though they may have only moved through 4 or 5 poses during a class. Restorative yoga can provide a real sense of inner peace. It can help release emotion and feelings of worry or anxiety.

If you are looking to unwind, to learn to relax, to de-stress or relieve anxiety, perhaps you are struggling with menopause, grief or insomnia, or perhaps you are simply overworked, overwhelmed and looking for some YOU time then restorative yoga could be the solution you’re looking for. Book a class today and see for yourself how restorative yoga can benefit you.