Restorative Yoga and Interesting Facts about It
Restorative Yoga is the form of yoga where the main goal is to obtain mental, emotional and physical relaxation through the help of props. Their usage eases up your body and helps you achieve balance within yourself through stimulation and relaxation. Whether the postures target the entire body or only specific parts of it, all of them are beneficial.
Origins of the Restorative Yoga
This branch of yoga was first found by one of the most influential yoga teachers in the world named B.K.S. Iyengar. However, as time evolved, the style deviated somewhat from its original methods. First known as Iyengar Yoga, the style taught methods to strive for perfection of posture. Those teachings are the foundation of the modern day restorative yoga.
Poses in the Restorative Yoga
While most of the poses and postures are similar to other types of yoga, the difference here is that they are done through the support and usage of props. A typical class would begin with a warm up of vinyasa and then proceed with restorative yoga’s poses, each of which is usually held for a few minutes up to 15 minutes. Some instructors recommend the practitioners cover their bodies, to raise the levels of comfort while practicing this style of yoga.
Types of Props Used
There are a wide variety and mixture of different props. The most common ones that are used are blankets, chairs, straps, bolsters, blankets, pillows and others. Their goal is to help you achieve and hold a perfect pose. They provide support while relaxing or stretching. The selection of the props when buying them is important as they must be of proper range and size of the different type of specific poses. Otherwise, the props may cause discomfort instead of serving their actual purpose.
Benefits of the Restorative Yoga
If you feel under a lot of pressure, stress, or your body is just stiff and aches, then restorative yoga is the perfect match for you. It’s known to heal not only the body but also bring relief to the mind. It comes in handy to people that have active lifestyles to help them defuse their gathered fatigue and stress over time. Some cases have shown to help people recover from injuries and illnesses both physical and emotional such as anxiety and depression.
Advanced practitioners are known to have activated and unlocked the parasympathetic nervous system. Simply explained, this is the system that regulates all of your automatic bodily functions that you are not actively controlling when you are at rest. Examples of what is controlled by this system are salivation, lacrimation (tearing) & sexual arousal. The normal nervous system is put at rest which has its hidden, passive benefits. Regular practice of this yoga style would lead to a generally less stressful life, improved overall health and less of a vulnerability to develop mental illnesses.
Compared to other yoga styles, this one is much more demanding in terms of equipment; however, it has proven to be worthy and effective.
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