Restorative Yoga is the same as other styles of yoga in that in also aims to teach students to relax and re-energize the mind, body, and spirit. However, the approach it uses is very distinct. Restorative Yoga poses are typically done with yoga props and accessories like yoga blocks, to provide support and make it easier for the students to do the different positions. It also uses music to give added calmness to the class, and contribute to the over all feeling of gentleness that Restorative Yoga emphasizes.
Who Can Do Restorative Yoga?
Because of its slower pace and use of yoga props for support, this relaxed style of yoga can be done by anyone regardless of age, gender, and level of yogic practice. The poses done in Restorative Yoga classes are no different from the other asanas used in other types of yoga. As mentioned, the only difference is that you employ "support props" like bolsters, blankets, and blocks to make the poses a little less physically demanding and a lot more relaxing.
Benefits of Restorative Yoga
Like we said, the main goal of Restorative Yoga is to revitalize your body and soul through relaxation. So even if you're the type who goes for the more strenuous and fast-paced styles of yoga, you would greatly benefit from doing Restorative Yoga so you could slow down, relax, and re-energize before you go into another Ashtanga class. This style of yoga is also recommended for the elderly, and those in need of injury rehabilitation or stress therapy.
What You Need to Know
If you are doing Restorative Yoga for injury rehabilitation, it's best that you approach the instructor before class starts and tell him/her about your condition. This is simply to help them modify and design the sequences of poses to be used in class. For example, if you're experiencing pain from a slipped disk, the instructor can include in the set certain poses that wouldn't strain you or risk further injury.