Restorative Yoga is a style of yoga that encourages physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Appropriate for all levels, restorative yoga is practiced at a slow pace, focusing on long holds, stillness, and deep breathing.

Unlike more active yoga styles such as vinyasa, a Restorative Yoga session is where you will hold a pose for 5 minutes or more.

What is Restorative Yoga?

Gentle, supportive, and therapeutic are just a few words that describe Restorative Yoga, a practice of passive healing.

This yoga style is known for its ability to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system that helps keep basic functions working as they should.

As the name suggests, this style of Yoga “restores” the body to its parasympathetic nervous system function, which, in turn, helps the body rest, heal, and restore balance.

By allowing time for longer asanas (postures or poses) and deeper breathing, Restorative Yoga helps elicit the relaxation response. This response can help slow breathing, reduce blood pressure, and produce a feeling of calm and increased well-being.

A key element in Restorative Yoga is the use of props such as blocks, bolsters, or blankets. The props help you hold passive poses for longer without exerting or tiring out your muscles. It also allows you to feel comfortable and supported, regardless of your experience with Yoga.

And, since you’re encouraged to relax fully in the pose while focusing on your breath, Restorative Yoga allows you to release tension in your muscles for longer periods without discomfort.

What are the benefits of Restorative Yoga?

Relaxes your mind and body, reduces stress and anxiety, and lowers levels of cortisol , the stress hormone.

Soothes the nervous system. Restorative yoga helps shift the balance from your fight-or-flight response (sympathetic nervous system) to your relaxation response, or the parasympathetic nervous system.

Enhances your mood. Yoga promotes relaxation and deep breathing, which may reduce depressive symptoms.

Reduces chronic pain. Yoga may help reduce pain associated with headache or back pain, as well as osteoarthritis.

Improves sleep. Adding yoga to your daily routine may help boost the quality of your sleep.

Improves well-being. In addition to lower levels of stress, doing Yoga regularly may result in less fatigue, more vigor, and improved well-being.

Gentle on your body. Restorative Yoga is generally safe and often recommended for people with acute or chronic injuries.

Works as part of an overall treatment plan for chronic health conditions. People with a chronic illness may benefit from a regular practice of yoga.

Safe to perform during pregnancy. Restorative Yoga is easy, adaptable, and safe to practice during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ranks prenatal Yoga as one of the safest ways to exercise during pregnancy.

If you are ready to relax, renew and soothe your entire being, join Tammy, Thursday October 28th at 6:00 p.m. est. for a Free Restorative Yoga Session on Facebook Live. Not able to make the live class? No worries, there will be a recording available after so you can play it back and practice at your convenience. To join the class, click on the Restorative Yoga event or the post on Breathe Inspire Yoga's page.