When’s the last time you slowed waaay down and didn’t go straight to sleep or fidget in restless discomfort? (I know, it can feel so foreign)!
Do you have a way to feel centered and calm when your mind is running on overdrive?
These questions bring up some of the real-life challenges that make self-care difficult in our fast-paced, high pressure world. Early on in my yoga journey, I didn’t really give this slower-paced style of yoga a chance until I decided to teach and practice it. My eyes began to open to the balance that comes with slowing down my body and mind - this was the balance I so desperately needed in my life.
This new practice was awkward and challenging at first. I remember feeling quite restless in the beginning. The urge to constantly be doing something is real, however, I gave it time.
Overtime, I noticed my knee-jerk impulses began to decrease. I started to breathe more evenly, and simply notice my breath. Eventually I began to experience more steadiness within me. This is one of the reasons I have grown to appreciate this practice so much and feel it is extremely relevant for most of us today.
This soothing and grounding practice is a powerful antidote to the stressful and “information-overload” world many of us live and work in. The constant multitasking and distractions pay a price on our nervous systems and wellbeing. We tend to keep chugging along accumulating stress, tension and anxiety. Our bodies are craving time to unwind and relax.
Restorative yoga is a soft space to re-set and recharge. It never requires much energy and gives us so much back in return. It’s a way to gift ourselves nourishment, energy, spaciousness, and greater clarity. We learn to release the stress that accumulates in our tissues so we can feel better and be more at ease.
It looks a lot like getting set up in supported yoga poses using props such as blankets, bolsters, blocks and belts to make the poses luxurious and comfortable. Once settled into a shape, it’s about progressively relaxing, yielding to sensation, unwinding, and observing with gentle curiosity. Instruction is given to guide your awareness and foster mindfulness. The mind can easily drift off and become distracted. This practice is a great way to strengthen our immune and nervous system, practice mindfulness and give our bodies the love they deserve!
-MK
