Restorative Yoga

Sunday evening I was fortunate enough to take a 'restorative yoga' class at Yoga Works on Main St in Santa Monica (7:30-9pm every Sunday). It had been about 6 months - maybe longer- since I had been able to take the class and it felt like coming home home after a long car trip when all you want to do is crawl into your comfortable bed and once you are there you never want to leave it. In the Los Angeles world of yoga restorative yoga tends to get lost in the hustle and bustle but it is just as important as any other form of yoga. Possibly more.

Restorative yoga stimulates the relaxation response which in turn can help improve most every system in the body from digestion to circulation to your overall sense of well being. As most people live in a state of 'chronic stress', restorative yoga can be seen as the antidote to your day.

One of the best things about this form of yoga is that you can practice it anywhere, all you need is pillows and blankets and a room where you have peace and quiet for an uninterrupted amount of time.

Below is the setup for one of my favorite restorative poses, Supta Baddha Konasana, if I could give everyone in my life a homework assignment it would be to do this pose 10 minutes a day for 3 weeks and observe how it changes not only how your body feels but your entire perspective on life. Give it a try- feel free to post a comment on your experience with it!

Supta Baddha Konasana:
*you will need a bolster or 2 blankets and an additional blanket to be your pillow, 2 blocks (or thick books) or blankets to put under your thighs for support and a strap (if you don't have a strap you can skip the strap part but I would recommend getting one at one point as it adds a deeper sense of release to the pose).

To set it up:
1. set up your bolster or blankets folded neatly and stacked in a rectangle about the length of your torso so that you are seated in front of the narrow part of the rectangle
2. take your 'pillow' blanket folded neatly at the other end of your bolster/ blanket
3. if you have a strap make a large loop and bring it over your head so that it is around your lower back and your feet (it is important to get the strap as low as possible on your back so you don't jam your lower back)- tighten the strap until there is no slack left (it should be comfortable)
4. lie back on the bolster (with about an inch between your lower back and the bolster/ blankets) and adjust the pillow to support your head and neck
5. place the additional blankets or blocks (blankets preferred) under your thighs to support them so there is no strain in your hips or inner thighs
6. adjust so that you are comfortable- close your eyes and stay for up to 10 minutes (I would recommend at least 7 minutes)
7. to come out- move slowly- bringing your hands to your outer thighs to bring your knees together and roll onto your side, pause on your side for a moment and then slowly press yourself to seated- take a moment to observe how you feel before the resuming the rest of your day