Why Practice Restorative Yoga?

To combat the high paced life of modern living, people around the globe are discovering the numerous benefits of restorative yoga. Restorative yoga is said to be beneficial to the body in many ways. Restorative yoga may be a style to try if you are looking to improve your health and keep balanced. Research has shown that restorative yoga helps boost the immune system, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and helps to ease pain.

Each of the various types of gentle restorative yoga poses help stimulate the energy centers of the body allowing the energy to flow more freely. With consistent practice, this free-flowing energy will manifest in the form of less stress, more alertness, better concentration, and a range of other benefits.

How to Get Going with Restorative Yoga?

Many believe that this form of yoga helps people feel better and helps people maintain balance and achieve a state of well being. Individuals who are unfamiliar with this type of yoga can feel at ease, as this is a gentle, graceful yoga that meets the body and mind exactly where they are.

To begin, students of restorative yoga may benefit from attending a restorative yoga class. With time, the guidance you receive in a class can prepare you to take your practice home in a safe way to the healing environment you create at home.

For the restorative yoga practice at home, one can use pillows a yoga bolster to support the body in the poses. Yoga bolsters are utilized to support the body while practicing various restorative postures as well as during meditation. Bolsters can be used for all styles of yoga and truly make a difference in creating a feeling of being held while practicing “letting go”.

Besides bolsters, students of restorative yoga commonly choose to use yoga blocks as well. These blocks are available in a variety of shapes and made from different materials such as cork, wood, or foam. They are useful restorative yoga accessories to support the body in certain poses. Blocks help you hold your position longer while maintaining comfort. In addition, blocks are considered helpful in restorative yoga practice because they help people maintain proper body alignment during the practice. The blocks are sturdy and can support a wide range of yoga poses and positions.

Other props used to help maintain a position include mats, pillows, and towels. They help to support the body in a gentle, relaxing poses. They can be placed on the arch of the back, head, behind the knees, or under the arms.

Gentle Restorative Yoga

Gentle restorative yoga poses can be used to help the body settle into deep relaxation. Many of these poses cultivate a deep sense of calm and aid in quieting the mind. Older individuals or those who may be less flexible may find restorative yoga especially beneficial.

Restorative yoga is a beneficial practice for many people as it can be done without stress or strain to the body. When there is no strain, energy is spent only in relaxing and restoring the body while calming and quieting the mind.

Examples of Easy Restorative Yoga Poses

There are numerous of easy restorative yoga poses for a beginner to enjoy. For example, Supported Child’s pose a posture in which you rest on your elbows and knees while your torso is supported by two or three pillows. The props eliminate the stress and strain of the abs and allow the body to fully relax in this position.

Another easy restorative yoga pose is called, Legs-Up-The-Wall. As the name implies, your legs are elevated against a wall while your upper body remains relaxed on the floor with your lower back is supported by a pillow.

Author's Bio: 

Kyle Willets has a doctorate in physical therapy and is a registered yoga instructor through the Yoga Alliance. She publishes articles on her site http://www.restorativeyogaposes.com/, a site dedicated to restorative yoga poses including benefits, props utilized, and thorough technique descriptions for each pose.