12 Sep What can RESTorative Yoga do for you…….
What can Restorative Yoga do for you?
I love the practice of restorative yoga………when I do it! That’s the actual catch. These days, it can be real easy to get so caught up in the ‘doing’ and easily forget how to undo that the doing by actually ‘being’. You get me? When I do remember, I get so much mileage out of this practice – the reminder of how this delicious practice can so powerfully and so easily received in every aspect of my being. I actually realise – when I do do it – that my body and mind were crying out to just ‘be’ for a little while.
But first – wait – what is restorative yoga?
It is a passive practice of receptivity where we create and hold an easeful body shape for an extended period of time, sometimes 3 minutes sometimes 30, depending on what we need. We can use props as much as we like (or none at all) and we settle in and let go of deeply held habitual patterns of tension within the body/mind. The nadis – lines of energy – almost like a hologram hovering in, around and through the energetic system of the body – receive this information helping us to unravel, unwind and release long held patterns of tension and tightening on all levels. On a physical level, our nervous system gets a great opportunity to rest, digest and reset itself – kind of like turning your phone back to factory settings – we get a great refresh!
The time is now.
We don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to rest, we don’t need to wait for exhaustion. We only need to remember that rest is a natural part of the equation that goes into being a healthy human being. When we rest we reset. When we remember to recalibrate ourselves regularly we are happier, healthier with steadier energy reserves, a more even temperament and way more vital life energy to share to ourselves and out in the world.
3 things I remember when I remember to practice…
Return to Being: I love how still and quiet I can become during this practice – there can be all sorts of stuff happening in my real life but committing to being present gives me great benefit when I practice. I focus on feeling and breathing. That leads me on the path to remembering ‘being’. My inner pulsations transform dramatically from erratic to quiet and gentle. Amazing.
Finding balance: Restorative yoga gives us a wonderful gift – it reminds us of what is most important – our health. The greatest wealth truly is our health. When we need to support our health Restorative Yoga is helpful is returning us to equilibrium. We have 2 sides to our nervous system – each equally important as the other. When we find balance between the two we sit in the middle of the scales – not in over or under drive – when we swing wildly one way and stay too long we can become completely wired or swinging in the other completely depressed and tired.
Self Care: The words Self Care are oh so trendy but self care can be as simple as drinking enough water, laying down for a 20 minute power nap, eating good nutritious food. We can practice restorative yoga everyday, once a week or once in 12 years, depending on what we need. I know for me throwing my legs up the wall for 8 minutes a few times a week has immense benefit – I can live on the fumes of this practice for ages. Magic!
Inspired to enjoy the great benefits of this practice – come join us for our monthly Restorative Yoga practice – 2 hours of quiet to return to being, find balance and enjoy the nutrient density of fantastic self care.