by Matty McDonnell ([email protected])
According to Google, rest can be defined as one’s ability to cease work or movement in order to relax, sleep or recover strength. I would concur that all of these things are possible with the profound benefits of Restorative Yoga.
I receive many calls and emails per week asking “What is Restorative Yoga?”, to which my first response is always ‘yoga in bed’. The reason for this initial answer has three limbs:
- We use multiple props to ensure the body is free of movement to truly relax (tick for meeting Google definition)
- Often people fall into a trance like state followed by either a short nap or insightful meditation (tick for meeting Google Definition)
- When the class is complete people always comment, “I feel revived and ready for my day” (tick for meeting Google definition).
Restorative Yoga is a deep reflective style that enables the practitioner to HEAL their bodies through multiple layers. Physically we shift from our need to be constantly processing, doing and achieving (Sympathetic Nervous System) to a state of restoration, digestion and being (Parasympathetic Nervous System). Physically the act of moving into our PNS has a result on many nerves that feed our organs such as: stomach, pancreas, ileum, colon, spleen, gallbladder & kidneys not to mention the vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve) that controls our heart, lungs and digestive tract.
Energetically, due to the time we hold postures (15-20 minutes is traditional) we are able to stimulate deep into the meridian system that also feeds directly to our internal organs. Here we often begin to experience emotions that have perhaps been locked or inaccessible due to our busy lives and our inability to slow down and rest. At My Health Yoga we incorporate Mantras and Sound Healing to help focus the mind, balance the body and create an avenue to release.
Spiritually we find freedom from the rapid current of thoughts demanding us to act a certain way or be a certain person. When the vritti (mind chatter) ceases we hear the Universe clearly allowing us to plug back in and fill our cups!
Restorative Yoga in my opinion is a MUST for each and every person. I often use the word “unlearn” during class as I feel this best describes our ability to come back home, to find answers within and allow our inner child a chance to play.
Picture: My usual Wednesday set-up to teach Restorative Yoga
Mantra: I AM ENOUGH
Favouirte Savanasa Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvo-CCtC3Zs
You can find Restorative Yoga at New Farm, Broadbeach and Online
In-stuio: http://www.myhealthyoga.com
Online: http://www.myhealthyoga.tv
