Restorative Yoga: What is it. Why it’s important. And, what’s getting In the way of doing it.

Poses which relax and restore the mind, body and spirit are an essential part of a yoga practice that provide nourishment to support the many systems of the body that keep us healthy and happy throughout the year. Collectively, these practices are known as Restorative Yoga.

What can you expect if you’ve never been to a Restorative Yoga class? Imagine walking into a serene studio, with soft music playing in the background and the scent of lavender filling the air. You settle onto your mat, noticing the feeling of calmness that surrounds you. The instructor begins guiding you into passive yoga poses-your body supported completely by props. Each pose feels like it was designed to activate the body's relaxation response, allowing for deep rest and rejuvenation. A soft and clear voice helps you become curious about your breath and you rest into a deep and nourishing breathing pattern. You feel weightless and relaxed, letting go of the worries of the day breath by breath. The very gentle, mindful breathing and supported poses help you let go of the accumulated stress that had taken its toll on her mind and body.

With practice Restorative Yoga becomes your refuge, your sanctuary amid life's chaos. It provided you with a safe space to slow down, breathe deeply, and nurture her inner self. Through the practice, you discovered the power of stillness and self-compassion.

So, What’s Stopping Us From Embracing These Benefits?

There are several misconceptions and limiting beliefs surrounding this practice that can hinder people from engaging in it and receiving it’s benefits.

Believing We Have to Constantly Hustle

Many of us know how to work hard, but slowing down and resting is just an afterthought for some elusive day when we have more time, fewer emails or we've done something to deserve it. In our highly production-oriented, fast-paced world, slowing down doesn't feel like an option. Or, it feels like something we have to earn.

Maybe taking a break feels uncomfortable for you or you’re afraid that you’ll fall behind if you slow down. Many of us have fallen into this one-sided mindset that we have to constantly be pushing and keep the hustle going or else we’re not going to get where we want to go or we're going to fall behind.

But, we also know that if we don't rest, if we don't hit pause or set boundaries around our time and work schedule, it will be a disservice for everyone in our lives (including ourselves). Stress when left unaddressed, can be toxic. It can seep into every aspect of our lives, affecting our health, happiness, and relationships.

Rest actually helps us get better results with our projects, our health and our relationships. When we rest it gives us the opportunity to step back and take in the bigger picture. It helps with making tough decisions and processing hard emotions. It lends itself to creativity and inspiration. It helps us manage stress, regulate hormones and reduce pain.

Restorative Yoga is Not Physically Challenging Enough

It’s true that we all need cardio-vascular exercise and resistance training, Restorative Yoga offers a unique set of physical challenges we also need and are hard to get anywhere else. While it may not involve intense physical exertion or dynamic movements, it requires a constant process of letting go of tension. This continuous act of surrendering can be physically challenging, especially when the body has experienced chronic pain or painful conditions and become very protective of itself. This practice demands patience, breath awareness, and the ability to cultivate self-compassion. Through overcoming these challenges, Restorative Yoga promotes physical and emotional healing.

Restorative Yoga is Only for the Inflexible or Injured

Restorative yoga is often seen as a practice exclusively suited for those with limited flexibility, injuries or seniors. And, while it is true that it does provide therapeutic benefits for those with physical limitations, Restorative Yoga offers something for everyone. It is beneficial for individuals of all levels of flexibility, health and fitness. If fact, it is a great active recovery practice for athletes and is also particularly beneficial to people with high-stress lives, chronic pain, anxiety, or sleep issues.