The Benefits of Restorative Yoga
There are many ways in which you can improve your physical and emotional state of well-being, and of course, therapy is one of those. Some other ways include exercise, introspection, surrounding yourself with friends, meditation, mindfulness – the list goes on and on. One increasingly popular but lesser known way to improve both your physical and emotional well-being is through a specific type of yoga, called restorative yoga.
What Is Restorative Yoga?
To explain restorative yoga, I’d first like to touch on what the practice of yoga is. Yoga is a discipline that emphasizes health and relaxation – typically taken in a class, those practicing yoga will work through a series of exercises focusing on meditation, breath regulation, and specific postures.
Restorative yoga, however, is a specific style of yoga that focuses on providing yogis with a healing experience. In this practice, the goal is to center your breath and body by practicing stillness or gentle movement for extended periods of time. A restorative yoga sequence usually includes only five or six poses, supported by props that allow you to completely relax and rest. The ultimate goal of restorative yoga is healing of the mind.
How You Can Benefit From Restorative Yoga
Restorative yoga has extensive and wide-reaching health benefits. As long as it is approached with an open mind, everyone can benefit from the practice of restorative yoga. Having practiced restorative yoga for some time now, my peers have shared with me what they feel are the most significant benefits of this practice. These include the following:
- Slowing down your days, bringing you into the present moment
- Calming effects on your nervous system
- Practicing mindfulness
- Allowing for a deeper meditational state of mind
- Allowing for greater introspection
- Fostering greater self-awareness
- Strengthening acceptance of what we cannot control
Restorative yoga can bring you to a mental state of clarity, and coupling this practice with regular South Bay therapy can help you achieve a more peaceful, healthy life.
Incorporating Restorative Yoga Into Your Daily Life
Due to the many benefits of restorative yoga, a few of which I highlighted above, I highly recommend making an effort to incorporate this practice into your daily life. Making restorative yoga a habit is something that takes time, but here are a few ways in which you can get started:
- Incorporate a few poses at the end of your workout routine – slowly hold these poses, ensuring that they are comfortable, allowing you to focus on self-awareness
- Watch online videos to guide you through the practice
- Spend time outside practicing restorative yoga
- Prioritize, replacing an hour of TV with the practice
I hope that you will find restorative yoga to be a rewarding experience, and should you want to discuss the practice more, I am always happy to do so!
If you feel that you are struggling emotionally, or need someone to guide you through your hardships, please feel free to reach out to me. I provide adult therapy, couples therapy, adolescent therapy and more. To schedule an appointment at my Hermosa Beach therapy office, please contact me or give me a call. I hope to hear from you soon!