Restorative yoga is for an intense relaxation of both body and mind. It supports a body in need of healing.
This passive, meditative style yoga helps you focus on breath while the body is supported to relax. The origin goes back to the yoga master B.K.S.Iyengar’s yoga sessions. He started to include props to support and modify the poses to practice without strain. Today, props are still used generously to perform poses and hold them longer while focusing on relaxation.
What it means
As the term means, restorative yoga restores an unhealthy body and brings it back to normal. It supports a body in need of healing. It is different from Yin yoga in the sense, that it restores unhealthy bodies, while Yin yoga brings an average healthy body to an optimum condition.
What to expect
There is no definite structure or series for these classes. The classes may also include nonphysical elements such as visualisations, affirmations, and poetry readings. You may want to take socks, and warmer clothes as the body won’t generate much heat. You may also use a lightweight eye pillow or a cloth to cover your eyes to help you relax further.
Who is it suitable for?
This style of yoga is truly for everyone. You don’t need any prior yoga experience or baseline fitness level to experience it. It also helps advanced practitioners and athletes to balance their physically demanding exercises. Great practice for after-work stress release and to sleep well. Ayurvedically, this yoga is excellent for Vatta to ground their body and mind and for Pitta constitutions to calm their fiery competitive spirit.
Health benefits
Stress reduction
Soothes the nervous system
Improves sleep
Gentle on your body
Better pain management.
Works as an overall treatment plan for chronic health conditions
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