Restorative Yoga: It's Time to Get Relaxed

Today we continue our series where we explore different types of classes that you'll find here at HealthGirl.

So far, we've looked at Back Care Yoga, FUNctional Fitness, Yin Yoga, Power Yoga, Chair Yoga, and Hatha Yoga, and this week we will discover the benefits of Restorative Yoga at HealthGirl.

"Wait, isn't yoga supposed to be physically demanding and stretch me into pretzels? Restorative looks like I'm lying there!"

Yep! That is the point!

Welcome to what many of our students affectionately call "sleepy time" yoga! These classes focus on relaxing deeply into very gentle postures that are designed for deep restoration of body systems. It is so gentle that many of our online students do our Restorative Yoga classes in bed before their bedtime!

When engaged in most of our daily activities, we are often in what is known as our Sympathetic Nervous System, otherwise known as our "Fight or Flight", which is great when we need to handle stressful situations. However, just as we need sleep to recover from rigorous activity, Restorative Yoga can greatly help to reduce our "Fight or Flight" and activate our "Rest and Digest", otherwise known as our Parasympathetic Nervous System.

We use many different yoga props, such as blankets, bolsters, blocks, pillows and chairs to support the practice so that you feel as comfortable and supported as possible.

In this practice, we move slowly, and mindfully and with the intent to allow ourselves to relax as much as we can. Students will get comfortable with postures for 10 minutes or more to encourage deep meditation and relaxation. The aim is NOT to feel a stretch or pull, but rather to find a posture that is so comfortable, that the participant can actually fall asleep.

Many students find that once they get used to being still for longer periods of time, they sleep much better than they ever have before, and wake feeling more rested than they have in a long time. They also find that they feel less stressed.

Self-adjustment, as the pose time lengthens, is always encouraged to ensure the student feels safe and is not holding beyond their comfortable limits. As always, ask your doctor if you are unsure whether you are ready for an exercise program. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have at [email protected] 

Currently, we do not have an in-person or live online Restorative class on our schedule, but we have recorded Restorative Yoga classes available in our unlimited AnyTime Studio Membership, which you can try free for 7 days here: www.HealthGirl.ca/join 

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have, and please talk to your doctor if you have any health concerns that may become exacerbated by physical exercise. We always encourage my students to listen to their bodies and minds and to only do what is within their scope on any given day.

We can't wait to see you on your mat!

Cheers to your good health,

Meghann