- The goal is complete physical and mental relaxation.?Unlike a flow class, in which you're moving from one pose to the next or through a series of repetitive motions, when you're doing a restorative class you'll only have a handful of poses that you'll hold for five to 10 minutes at a time or longer. This means you can focus on a deep stretch, clearing your mind, sinking into your body, and your breathing.?
- The poses are incredibly comforting, restful, and peaceful.?You might be thinking there is no way I can hold a yoga pose for even a couple of minutes. However, there are no tough positions in restorative yoga, just lovely ones! Most are in a seated or lying down position and there are lots of supportive props involved, including blocks, bolsters, and lots and lots of blankets. The instructor for my particular class would come around after we were in our positions and cover us with a blanket,?add a hip weight or hand weight to help us deepen the pose even more, and place a cushioned eye cover on our face (if we were okay with it of course).?
- It centers your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).?Which is important because the PNS is a network of nerves that controls your body's ability to relax as well as to recover and recharge more quickly after a stressful experience. ?Whether you're navigating an unusually difficult time in your life or just overwhelmed by life's normal stressors, restorative yoga forces you to slow down, put your body and mind on pause, and helps you recognize and let go of that stress.
- The benefits of an?ongoing and regular practice can be long-lasting.Restorative yoga?may help mitigate stress, increase resiliency, slow your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, relieve chronic pain, reduce soreness, and calm the monkey mind ?
