When I first joined a Restorative Yoga class, I melted like an ice cream in hot summer day. It felt so sweet like that vanilla ice cream with caramel topping, guilt free! Never thought yoga could be that delicious and super relaxing. Very liberating. It was like a treat to the whole Chakra system. Like an opening to the tight areas around the shoulders and hips. Like a generous gift to the tired legs and feet. Absolutely recuperating.
Restorative Yoga is not a sleeping session. It’s better than that. It’s very enjoyable, yet we are fully awake and aware during the session. “Oh, God bless the teachers who discovered this sequence!” I said in my first session. Ever since, I couldn’t stop introducing this sequence to the yoga students that came to Karmarati studio. Funny how they melted and commented “Oh, God bless those who made these bolsters!” God bless them all, indeed!
Many essential poses, such as Bridge Pose (Sethu Bandha Sarvangasana), Legs Up On The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) could be totally relaxing with the help of few essential props. Strap, bolster, pillow, blanket, eye bag and chair are necessities in Restorative Yoga. When we are ready, the journey is very simple. Follow the guidance of a teacher, move slowly and mindfully, breathe slowly and relax the eye gaze. When the breath slows down, so does the heart rate, so do the mind and the movement. So, we will reach to that state of total relaxation in full awareness. Trust me, it is like floating and flowing sweetly in the free air.
However, I can see that it is challenging to get to that relaxation state if we keep our minds busy. And, when the mind is super busy, the breath is irregular. Sometimes, restorative can also be challenging for beginners. Minds are restless and sometimes tensions arise. So, the suggestion is to come to the breath first, feel it, hear it, flow with it, ride it and surrender.... Be patient, take time to compassionately calm your breath down. Eventually, the mind slows down. Less busy, less tension, less fatigue, less stress. And, re-open yourself to unlimited possibilities of relaxation.
There is nothing wrong about melting down, calming down, surrendering and be a little vulnerable in a restorative session. The benefits will soon arrive and you will feel renewed. You would be surprised of how relax you could be. Discover how enjoyable it is to be...with yourself!
So, why wait? Make time for this relaxing wonder as soon as you get a chance.... Let it be a gift to yourself.
Peace and joy.
Namaste.
