Restorative yoga is a calming exercise. It’s all about passive stretching to help you calm down and loosen up your body. You might not be able to move at all during a restorative session at home. You will benefit from only a few postures.
Restorative yoga is not like most other forms of yoga in that it is a different experience. Below we’ve written an ultimate guide on how you can learn restorative yoga at home.
What Is Restorative Yoga?
Beginners and advanced practitioners at all levels may benefit from restorative yoga. Restorative yoga is a relaxing activity that involves holding yoga poses (asanas) for periods. Yoga blocks, blankets, and bolsters are among the props included. It’s a deep relaxation technique that emphasizes yoga’s meditative aspect—the union of body and mind. The postures are held almost effortlessly ,thanks to the use of props for support.
The mind will actively relax once the body has reached a state of relaxation. Both the body and the mind are free of tension. During a restorative yoga session, the only job you have to do is pay attention to your breath and try to relax your minds by thinking of any peaceful place.
Restorative Yoga is currently trending toward physical, aerobic, and acrobatic forms of the practice. For example, in a typical session, you switch quickly from one pose to the next. Over time, you build up heat and strengthen your strength and flexibility. These vigorous yoga styles emphasize muscular involvement. All you need to do is to gently stretch your body in restorative yoga postures. The length of restorative yoga poses varies from 5 to 4 minutes.
Advantages
Yoga is commonly thought of as physical exercise. Power, stability, and versatility can all be improved with it. It has the potential to boost respiratory and cardiovascular function. It also helps with chronic pain symptoms. It also improves sleep quality as well as general wellbeing.
The many advantages of restorative yoga are close to those of other types of yoga. Some of them are following:
Better sleep: The calmer you are, the more likely you are to get a good night’s sleep. In a meta-analysis published in 2020, researchers looked at 19 studies to see how various forms of yoga, including restorative yoga, can influence sleep quality. Yoga has been found to be an effective treatment for sleep disorders by researchers. It raises melatonin levels and lowers hyperarousal.
Deep breathing helps to stimulate the nervous system by calming it down. Restorative yoga is an important way to relax, according to research. According to a 2014 study, restorative yoga is much more beneficial. It facilitates relaxation more effectively than normal passive stretching.
Studies indicate that various types of yoga, including restorative yoga, are effective treatments for musculoskeletal pain control.
Restorative yoga activities in general have been related to better wellbeing and health in the normal community.
Restorative yoga can help people with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other mood disorders control their symptoms, according to research.
Restorative yoga activities that are gentle on the joints are known as restorative yoga. The connective tissues that surround the bones and joints can be reinforced with daily practice.
Restorative yoga has also been found to be a useful resource for people with cancer, according to clinical reports. It mentions that people’s mental health has improved.
Restorative yoga has been shown to reduce depression in cancer survivors in studies. In cancer patients, it can help with anxiety, depression, and pain symptoms. Furthermore, it assists patients in dealing with the side effects of cancer rehabilitations.
Props
Props are used widely in restorative yoga to support the body. As a result, you’ll be able to keep poses for longer periods. The addition of yoga blocks, bolsters, and blankets to relieve the pressure is commonly adapted from supine or seated yoga poses. Placing a bolster or multiple folded blankets on top of your thighs. By allowing your entire body to rest on your props, completely supports your forward bend.
Reclined Goddess pose is another position you might be familiar with. It can also be transformed into a restorative pose by supporting your spine with a bolster at the back of your pelvis. A rolled-up blanket may be used to gently bind the soles of the feet.
Final Words
Restorative yoga is a perfect way to relax and enjoy long, meditative stretches while still relieving tension. Before you try it on your own, consider taking an online class from the comfort of your own home. Patience is a virtue, and you should relish the stillness of your body and mind. It takes some getting used to, but after a while, it becomes second nature, and the benefits can astound you.