The Joys and Benefits of Restorative Yoga
The antidote to stress is relaxation, and one of the most incredible ways to learn to relax is through restorative yoga. This kind of yoga can help you heal pain, ease fears, and turn off the constant buzzing of anxiety in your brain. It's super lazy--in a typical class you to do nothing but lie in supported poses using props: blankets, bolsters, straps and blocks. Your weight is supported and you are held in positions that physiologically allow your mind to rest and your body to release.
I discovered these poses in Iyengar Yoga classes in my 20's, and they've been invaluable buffer through the milestones in life: having children, moving, or getting a new job, the death of a loved one, and especially through this pandemic.
Stress can make you sick, and in uncertain times we can find ourselves living in a chronically stressed state. When this happens our adrenals continue to pump out stress hormones affecting our digestion and elimination in a negative way, and even our sleep is disturbed in our agitated state.
Lying around in a state where the brain is quiet, with no movement and no effort, has measurable health benefits: one study showed a six point-greater drop in blood sugar in a group of pre-diabetics who practiced restorative yoga (at least 30 min three times a week) compared with those who did stretching exercises. In addition, those that did the restorative practice also lost two pounds more than the stretching group, along with nearly a half inch more from their waistline.
Restorative yoga has been shown to decrease hot flashes during menopause, as well as reduce fatigue and improve quality of life for women with breast cancer. Dean Ornish M.D. studied those with atherosclerotic heart disease and concluded that daily periods of relaxation are essential to preventing further deterioration.
If you are feeling the effects of a long hot summer, are fatigued, or stressed try a restorative yoga session help you reboot. One of the best books on this subject is Relax and Renew by Judith Lasater, It's an excellent book to support your home practice, and these poses are especially easy to do before bedtime. Letting go of the day in a restful pose can improve the quality of your sleep.
I'm offering a free restorative class online on Saturday August 14th, if you like, join me! You'll find the details and a place to sign up below!