The Healing Power of Restorative Yoga

Yoga has become an increasingly popular practice in recent years, embraced for its ability to strengthen the body and calm the mind. Yet many busy, stressed-out people struggle to feel comfortable in a fast-paced, intense yoga class. If this sounds familiar, restorative yoga may be the perfect solution. This gentle, introspective practice can profoundly benefit your mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.

In restorative yoga, students use props like blankets, bolsters, and blocks to support the body in restful poses. The poses are held for 5 minutes or more, allowing deep muscular release. Whereas power yoga seeks to challenge your endurance and flexibility, restorative yoga invites you to relax and let go.

Restorative yoga’s long holds and passive nature trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing breathing, lowering blood pressure, and inducing a sense of calm. This makes it an excellent antidote to anxiety and stress. Restorative yoga encourages mindfulness, drawing your awareness to sensations in your body and the quality of your breath. This meditation-like contemplation can provide emotional healing by alleviating feelings like anger, grief, and depression.

On a spiritual level, restorative yoga allows you to open your heart to a sense of inner peace and transcendence. It provides space to restore energy, gain insight into challenges, and reconnect with your true self. The introspective quietude of this practice enables you to go inward and experience the vastness within.

Physically, restorative yoga promotes healing in numerous ways. The deep relaxation response it evokes releases muscle tension and encourages natural alignment. This can alleviate chronic pain and improve flexibility. Restorative postures also activate the lymphatic system, enhancing immunity. As you release physical holding patterns, energy flows more freely through your body, bringing vitality.

In our hurried, pressure-filled world, restorative yoga offers permission to slow down and be nurtured. Restorative yoga can facilitate healing on every level through gentle opening, mindful stillness, and body-centered awareness. Give yourself the gift of this rejuvenating practice and observe its power to restore your natural health and wholeness.

To a Continuous Healing and Transformative Journey, Kevin

Kevin Brough – Ascend Counseling & Wellness – Ascendcw.com – 435.688.1111 – kevin@ascendcw.com