Restorative yoga is a calming and soothing gentle practice that aims to relax in-depth both the body and the mind. It is different from active yoga forms that emphasize on strength and flexibility, restorative yoga support the body with the use of props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks in restful poses for several minutes. Such an approach serves to bring about the parasympathetic nervous system — the "rest and digest" mode — that lowers the heart rate, cuts the stress hormones, and facilitates deep healing and relaxation.
The Science Behind Restorative Yoga
Restorative yoga helps muscles to be totally free of tension while the nervous system changes from a state of stress to a state of calmness. The long-held supported poses stimulate the vagus nerve, decrease cortisol levels, and enable the body to reset from chronic stress. Besides, this practice is a source of physical wellness and a sleep quality enhancer and also inflammation reducer.
Key Poses for Deep Relaxation
One of the essential poses is supported child’s pose that softly grounds and releases lower back tension. Another relaxing pose is the legs up the wall position, which takes away leg tension and gives mental peace. These poses insist on complete body relaxation while the breathing is deep and done with full awareness of the present moment.
Benefits of Mountain Pose
Even though restorative yoga is mainly about supported poses, the benefits of a standing pose like mountain pose, can hardly be overstated. Mountain pose is the one that helps to create balance, alignment, and grounding, thus, the body and mind become ready for relaxation. Besides, the concentrated posture and deep breathing improve posture awareness and at the same time, create calmness and inner balance that go well with restorative practices.
How to Do Nadi Shodhan (Alternate Nostril Breathing)
One of the most useful breathing methods that is frequently combined with restorative yoga is the nadi shodhan or alternate nostril breathing. Suggestions for a performance are:
Make yourself comfortable to sit and keep your spine straight.
Close your right nostril with the help of your right thumb and inhale deeply through the left one.
Now, use your ring finger to close the left nostril, let go of the right nostril and breathe out through the right one.
Then, breathe in through the right nostril, close it with your thumb, let go of the left nostril and breathe out through the left one.
Keep on doing this work slowly and quietly for a few minutes.
This pranayama balances the energy channels (nadis) in the body, calms the mind, and enhances the relaxation response during yoga practice.
Incorporating Restorative Yoga into Your Routine
If you want to feel immensely relaxed then you can try 5 to 10 minutes of each restorative pose while using props to fully support your body and release the muscles. The poses and slow, deep breathing or pranayama like nadi shodhan can be used together. Such a procedure is very beneficial to the parasympathetic nervous system which is the most important factor in stress management, anxiety reduction, and sleep improvement and it works gently and effectively.
Restorative yoga is like a reboot that can be very helpful to the nervous system when it is under pressure from the daily stressors. It is extremely good for people with anxiety, insomnia, or chronic tension. Whatever it might be, a short pre-bedtime routine or a longer weekend unwind sequence, restorative yoga is a way of creating the space necessary for the nourishment of the mind and body to take place deeply

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