Spotlight on Restorative Yoga

There is no more beautiful ending to a stressful day than a glorious Restorative practice. As the least “impacting’ form of yoga, Restorative allows folks to have space to breathe, relax, and release the mind in a series of postures that require little to no physical effort. The key to this type of yoga is to simply let go, and it is difficult for anyone to not enjoy the gentle, soothing effects of this meditative form of yoga.

At LLY we offer a Restorative Hatha class Tuesday's (monthly from 8:45pm-9:30pm). With this offering we wanted to make sure that you had some more info from our Restorative teacher Elizabeth about what this class can offer YOU! 

We sat down with Elizabeth and asked her a few questions; here is what she had to say...

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Q: What is Restorative Yoga?
A: Restorative Yoga is exactly what it sounds like! It is a gentle, passive and relaxing form of yoga. Restorative uniquely combines the principles and health benefits of both yoga and meditation at the same time, as it encourages a mindful connection between our body and mind with the end-goal of relaxation. Just like other types of yoga, Restorative still involves making various poses with our bodies; however, we’ll take advantage of using the floor and some yoga props (pillows, blocks & straps), allowing gravity to assist us in fully relaxing and releasing our bodies to the mat. Some of these poses include seated forward folds, laying twists, legs up the wall and gentle backbends.​

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Q: What benefits can I experience from a Restorative Yoga class? 
A: Due to its slower pace and passive nature, Restorative Yoga serves as an amazing compliment to all fitness and lifestyle routines. This method is ideal for all fitness levels and anyone seeking an opportunity to relax and decompress their tired body and busy mind. These longer-held poses and deep breathing techniques will allow our hard-working bodies and minds to slow down and gently open to stretch and release tight muscles. You’ll experience a greater sense of mental and physical relaxation during the class, that will follow with you after the class as well - take note of how well you may sleep that night!

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Q: What do I need to wear, bring, do for this class?
A: Wear comfortable clothing (even pajama pants will do!) that will allow you to move and rest comfortably, as we’ll be sinking into these poses for a while. Bring your yoga mat, a foldable blanket and a pillow (we'll provide the blocks and straps) to comfortably support your contact to the floor. You’re more than welcome to bring an extra blanket, eye pillow/mask, water or tea, or anything else you may need to make the practice your own. 

This class is all about YOU creating a restorative space for yourself! So please arrive with an open mind, open heart, ready to release some mind-body tension and open yourself to a calm, restorative energy.

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FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE RESTORATIVE HATHA SCHEDULE

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Written by: Elizabeth Fox