Relaxing and Restoring: The Most Advanced Practice

You Say You Want An Evolution?

The profound effect that restorative yoga has on my students (and my personal transformation), fuels my passion and dedication to spread this amazing practice.

So, when Yoga Journal approached me to create the Restorative Yoga 101 Course for them, I jumped!  

I have been teaching Restorative Yoga for over 20 years to all ages, levels, and backgrounds; those brand new to yoga and those with years of experience; men and women in all stages of wellness and illness.  From my work with this huge range of students, I know that we ALL deeply crave to slow down, to release stress, to feel more well and more connected. Restorative Yoga is the training ground for this and I see it transform peoples' lives regularly.

I have long thought of Restorative as the true Power yoga.

While restorative yoga is a healing practice, it's not just a physical 'recovery' practice. But many yoga students don't initially realize the profound range of benefits it offers. They think, 'I did my five vigorous yoga classes, now I deserve a treat.' They think of restorative yoga as a reward, or as a massage or pampering. Or if they are sick or injured and can't get to regular vinyasa class, people think restorative yoga is 'all' you can do.

On the contrary, I think it's the most advanced practice.

A restorative practice is more of a yin style of yoga, as opposed to more yang styles that involve more movement and more muscular effort. Restorative yoga uses long-held, supported resting poses to create the conditions for us to cultivate the skill of conscious relaxation and most importantly to release unnecessary habitual tension in the body and mind. It's a little bit closer to a meditation practice than a movement practice—it's a way of practicing "meditation" as a somatic, embodied experience. For many of us, hatha yoga practices can easily become another opportunity to over-effort or get caught up in accomplishing or striving to get better at a pose. Restorative yoga is about, "How can I let my body and mind unwind? How can I do less?"

To slow down, reduce movement, and allow our selves time to grow more quiet and still is truly a healing practice, but it is not always an easy practice.

Most of us are programmed to "do" a lot—it keeps us engaged and makes us feel productive and in control. But our habit of running around conquering our to-do lists can often be a way we avoid deep discomforts and unwelcome feelings in the body and mind. Restorative yoga asks us to stop engaging in all the doing and face what we really need to look at about ourselves. To learn about, befriend, and care for the whole of ourselves in a way we are not used to. This is an essential step for health and healing, for true renewal.

It is wonderful to see Restorative Yoga now being offered more widely in yoga studios. And it is amazing to hear the almost weekly broadcasting of new research confirming the impact of mindful and restorative yoga on everything from relieving anxiety to insomnia; from alleviating symptoms of depression to increased energy; from improving healing time to lessening chronic pain - and so much more.

But most importantly, as we allow more space for the full experience of who we are, we meet ourselves and connect with ourselves in a new way. 

Restorative Yoga sets the conditions for deep listening; the habit of paying close and tender attention to our body, our mind, and our heart so we can meet our “stress” - and ourselves - differently. This type of attention provides us with more resources and a greater capacity—physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally—to respond calmly, clearly, and wisely, and also to engage more fully and expansively in our life.

In my new book, Deep Listening, I share several Restorative practices and many techniques and tools that focus on experiencing our connectedness. This feeling of connection not only changes the way we respond to stress, it actually leaves us feeling less stressed, increases the amount of joy in our life, and sets the conditions for us to evolve.

That might sound like a big promise, but it’s not. We’re designed to feel deep connections. And I am excited to show you how in my new Restorative Yoga 101 series in September and Deep Listening in October.

I hope you will join me in the Restorative reEvolution!

Read More About Restorative Yoga

Enjoy these 4 Powerful Restorative Poses Now

How Restorative Yoga Helped these 5 Students Heal.

Why Restorative Yoga is the Most Advanced Practice

 

Restorative 101 Course

My new course with Yoga Journal: Restorative 101 begins on September 25. Learn more and register here.

Register today and receive $50 off the course by using this discount code: JPRANSKY50

This four-week program offers students an in-depth look at eight essential poses that will transform your relaxation. Each week you will receive detailed tutorials for two poses, insight into simple propping choices, a guided restorative sequence, a guided meditation and breath awareness practice, mind-body alignment lectures, and personal inquiry. You'll also get a slow flow warm up and secrets to setting up an amazing savasana. You have unlimited access to the whole course! It won't expire. Plus we will meet up for two live webinars and connect on our Private FaceBook forum. I can't wait to share this program with you! The First 100 people to register will be entered to win a singed copy of Deep Listening. 

Pre-Order Deep Listening

Deep Listening  Enjoy a Pre-Order Gift to practice today!

Receive a Gift of 2 Audio Meditations and a Video Practice to help you begin your Deep Listening program today.