Restorative yoga is a relaxing and mellow type of yoga with the aim of, well, restoring the body and the mind. It complements perfectly more dynamic type of asana practises and is also very suitable for complete yoga novices.
A typical restorative yoga sequence has very few poses. Depending on the length of the class the sequence has 2-6 asanas. Props such as blocks, bricks, bolsters, blankets and straps are used to support the body so literally no effort is required. The support of the props allows each pose to be hold for an extensive period of time, up to ten minutes. This means that the body can relax and let go completely.
Restorative yoga is a perfect antidote for the hectic city life as it allows us to unwind, de-stress and practise mindfulness whilst gently stretching the body. I often describe restorative yoga as “just lying around” but I don’t mean it in a dismissive or impolite way. Keeping still can actually be quite challenging for many at the beginning, but most people do reach a point during the practise when any resistance melts away.
With the current heatwave going on it is very important to remember that humans are not machines and it is necessary to slow down. Therefore restorative yoga is a great thing to practise these days. I will be teaching it most Saturdays over the next 5-6 weeks at The Canada Water Studios in South East London (next to the Canada Water tube station you can access on Jubilee Line and Overground Trains.)
The class is 90 minutes long from 16:30 to 18:00 and costs £14. Please book your class directly from the Canada Water Studios website, and of course let me know if you have any questions!
Oh, and we also have an air conditioning in the studio so really, be kind to yourself and come along!
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