Restorative Yoga: Luxury or Necessity?
By Karon Shovers RYT 500, Anusara Certified Yoga Teacher
The weekly restorative class prepares and grounds me for the week. It is a time I have carved out for self love and reflection. The themes each week are terrific. I share them and try to apply them to my daily life. Yoga and meditation as well as Shree Yoga are like a sanctuary for me.
I love the calm it offers my soul.
L.S.
I often hear
that Restorative Yoga is a luxury activity like a manicure or a massage or that
it is for people who are not strong and flexible or can’t do a “regular” yoga
class. Some students believe that conscious
resting will not help them shed unwanted weight. Students who practice Restorative Yoga
regularly claim that it is a necessity like brushing their teeth. It helps prevent stiffness, back pain, feeling
overstressed and helps them manage life.
What is the truth about Restorative
yoga?
Restorative
yoga compliments and magnifies the benefits of our asana practice and all types
of movement. It helps us unlock the
secret to going slow, paying attention and sitting still. When you practice intense rest you will
discover more energy for your family, work, creativity and more vigorous
exercise.
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| Rest is Radical Magic. |
According to Roger Cole, sleep researcher, “Restorative Yoga allows you to recover fully from all the stresses and strains of life. By relaxing muscles, lowering your heart rate and allowing your nervous system to stop constantly reacting, you are not only more relaxed but more focused and effective.” This, in itself, lends to greater productivity and time management.
We find that the practice builds on itself so the more you practice the more quickly you can drop into that place of calm and relaxation - whether that is in class or in daily life. Studies have found that consistent yoga practice increase serotonin levels and reduce monamine oxidase levels. As a result yoga has the potential to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
We find that the practice builds on itself so the more you practice the more quickly you can drop into that place of calm and relaxation - whether that is in class or in daily life. Studies have found that consistent yoga practice increase serotonin levels and reduce monamine oxidase levels. As a result yoga has the potential to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
A 48-week study was done by the National Institute of Health to prove that Restorative Yoga can help people lose significant weight and subcutaneous fat. Restorative yoga decreases the stress hormone cortisol, which is associated with weight gain, high blood pressure and heart disease.
The fact that restorative yoga helps people lose weight is a good thing, researches say, because the more aerobic styles of yoga or a gym workout can prove to be challenging or intimidating for someone overweight or injured and restorative yoga is easily accessible to all.
Rest is radical magic. Come take Restorative classes during the month of July for $10 and experience what going slow can do for you.
Mondays 6:00 PM
Tuesdays 10:45 AM
Thursdays 10:45 AM
Sundays 11:30 AM
