What is Restorative Yoga?

Restorative yoga is a style of yoga that involves holding the yoga poses for a longer period of time, the use of yoga props, and the goal to creating an environment where you can replenish and recuperate.  

So many of us need to allow our bodies to recover, but we don’t always give ourselves the space and time to do so.  Restorative yoga provides the tools to slow down and create the space where rest can happen.  When your body is at rest, it can heal.

This style of yoga is fairly new and modern compared to other styles.  It originated from the yoga teacher B.K.S. Iyengar, who was one of the yoga teachers who began using a lot of props to support the practice.  It’s a style of yoga that can also be practiced by almost everyone.

Benefits of Restorative Yoga

• Lowers anxiety

• Improves sleep quality

• Increases energy

• Releases tension

• Relieves stress

• Boosts your body’s recovery process

• Helps overcome depression

• Calms your nervous system

• Eases muscle tension

• Improves digestion

How restorative yoga works:

The restorative yoga practice activates something called the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the system that helps your body relax.  Once this system is activated, your body can enter a state of rest.  This is the state that allows your body to hit the brakes and begin its recovery.

In a restorative yoga class, you can expect to use some yoga props to help support you in each pose and you will also hold the poses much longer than you do in other styles of yoga.  This helps bring your body into relaxation.  When your body is in a relaxed state, your heart rate and breathing may slow down, your mind can become more calm, and your muscles will have a chance to recover.

Restorative Yoga and Anatomy 

Almost everyone can practice restorative yoga because of its focus on prop use and modifications.  This practice can be modified for almost every body and every need.  It supports the individual’s anatomy and focuses on bringing each person to their specific place of comfort.  

The anatomy of restorative yoga is really the honoring of your own anatomy and your own body’s requirements.  It honors the concept that what may work for one person may not work for someone else.  One of the goals of this practice is to help each person understand what they need to help their body heal.

The Difference Between Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga

Restorative yoga originates from B.K.S. Iyengar and was created to help people recover from injuries and other health issues.  Props are used to help your body feel fully supported and there may be some passive stretching.  One goal is to help your muscles release.

Yin yoga originates from Paul Greeley and incorporates some Traditional Chinese Medicine principles.  There aren’t as many props used in yin and the poses will bring you into more of an active stretch to reach the deeper tissues.  This practice focuses more on releasing the connective tissue as opposed to the muscles. 

Who can practice restorative yoga and what to expect in a restorative yoga class.

As mentioned earlier, almost anyone can practice restorative yoga.  This is because it caters to finding the most comfortable setup for each individual person.  It’s meant to be slow and relaxing, so don’t feel awkward or shy asking your teacher to help you adjust the poses.  Whether your injured, working with an illness, or brand new to yoga in general, you can practice this style of yoga.

In a restorative class, expect to hold poses for a while and to also move gently in all directions.  This means that almost your whole body will benefit from the practice.  You’ll experience a deeper rest than you normally experience in other classes and your body will release tension. 

This blog was written for YogaRenew Teacher Training