Restorative yoga has many benefits:

• relaxes the body & stills the mind (mind-body connection)
• boosts our capacity to heal
• boosts immunity
• enhances our mood
• improves our sleep

How does it work?

Our parasympathetic nervous system (a network of nerves which allows relaxation after period of stress) is activated with the practice of restorative yoga. This occurs as the body is able to deeply relax with the props allowing the body to feel weightless in the postures. As long as you are comfortable, able to breathe with ease and slow your heart rate in these postures healing can begin. If you feel uncomfortable simply adjust with additional props or slightly alter your position. Many postures can be done with straight or bent knees to enable you to find comfort.

Healing takes part in the pauses. Our society is so focused on doing, that we have forgotten how to just be. A lack of pauses causes many health problems as we need time to destress. Disease is often stress related. One of my teachers favourite phrases is that the root of disease is often dis-ease.

Mona Anand, Yogamaster in ISHTA yoga, restorative yoga and yoga nidra stated that in restorative practice ‘The brain responds by reducing stress hormones… so the blood can flow faster and more freely. Deeper tension embedded in our tissues can start to dissolve and our systems begin to do maintainance in order to function better next time they are called upon. The mind quiets and we experince less mind chatter.’

Fancy benefiting from restorative practice?

To practice restorative yoga with me follow me on YouTube and Instagram or join me in person every Sunday evening 6pm at Brixton Yoga, Leamington Spa.