Restorative yoga - reclaiming relaxation as a superpower

Written by Katrina Whalley

Restorative yoga is different

Forget bendy bodies, trendy clothing and dauntingly challenging poses. This is a style of yoga that accepts you as you are. It really doesn’t matter what you wear or how flexible your body is. Our aim is simply to slow down, drop inwards and create a sense of ease. 

Props are key

In this calm ground-based practice we use comfortable props such as blankets, bolsters and sandbags to support the body, letting go of tension. This is definitely not a cardio workout! It doesn’t look impressive to a casual observer, but restorative yoga has very many real benefits for health and wellbeing.

Finding balance in this frantic world

Modern life drip-feeds us stress in an unprecedented way (think screens, queues, traffic, consumerism, and rolling news stories of global atrocities and crises). We have normalised living in the adrenaline-fuelled ‘fight or flight’ mode of our autonomic nervous system. But our bodies are designed to have balance. Switching on our “rest and digest” mode (the parasympathetic nervous system) creates very many positive physiological changes. 

Restorative benefits:

• Improved digestion (optimising peristalsis, gastric emptying, digestive enzyme secretion and nutrient absorption)

• Robust immune system (fight off infections and recover more quickly)

• Lower blood sugar and improved metabolism

• Reduced blood pressure and heart rate

• Endocrine (hormonal) regulation and balance

• Improved sleep and mental wellbeing

• Lowering the risk of injury, stress and burnout

Remember, relaxation takes practice

…. and patience. We are primed towards activity, overstimulation and overthinking so it can take a while to learn the art of slowing down. It doesn’t always feel easy to prioritise relaxation, but with repeated practice the body learns to drop into this healing, balancing, healthful state.  Restorative yoga is a conscious practice. We learn to tune into our senses, recognise our own needs, and connect mind, body and breath. Becoming whole, connected, and calm again. 

Join me

Restorative yoga classes are held at Shropshire Health on the first Monday of every month (7-8pm). All mats and props are provided and no yoga experience is necessary. Come along and experience the subtle superpower of Restorative yoga for yourself!

The next class will be: 7pm Monday 3rd November

Book your spot here.