If you’re not familiar with restorative yoga, it’s a slower-paced style of yoga done with the support of props, the floor, and sometimes the wall. Restorative yoga focuses on restoring optimal alignment to the core of the body; the pelvis and spine and allowing the muscles that restrict that alignment to be retrained. Poses are often held for long periods of time and much of the instruction is focused on deep steady breathing. The poses, which typically have students arranging themselves into a position on the floor, are held for several minutes. Breathing techniques are then employed to allow your body to ‘soften’ into the pose.
The aim is to not only stretch out the muscles but to go deeper, softening and stretching the body’s connective tissue. This tissue, including muscle fascia, ligaments and tendons, is less elastic than muscles so it can be more prone to injury when exercising at high intensity. Restorative yoga seeks to strengthen and lengthen these connective tissues to promote recovery and prevent injury.
Stretching is an essential part of anyone’s workout routine, especially if you’re engaging in high intensity exercise. There are many benefits of being flexible, not only for preventing injury but also for enhanced performance. For those wanting to take their flexibility game to the next level, restorative yoga practices can give you the extra edge. These gentle therapeutic yoga classes also settle the mind and re-pattern the way we respond to challenge. When we breathe deeply and keep the mind focused and calm while the feeling high sensation of deep stretches, we train the mind to be less reactive and more sharply effective in general.
Many Students notice that the practice greatly assists with recovery. Anecdotally, this has been the case for many athletes and people engaging in high intensity training. The connective tissue, including muscle fascia, ligaments and tendons, is less elastic than muscles so it can limit muscle power and make us more prone to injury when exercising at high intensity. Restorative yoga seeks to strengthen and lengthen these tissues to promote recovery and prevent injury.
Bobby Reader teaches Restorative Yoga Fridays and Sundays 5 – 6:30PM . Bobby is an extreme athlete turned Yoga Teacher and Massage Therapist. His experience as a Ski Racer, Wind Surfer and Cyclist make him a relatable teacher for athletes looking to heal and fine tune their bodies and calm and focus their minds. You can reach Bobby at Bobby@WisdomFlowYoga.com
For a full schedule of our classes, go to WisdomFlowYoga.com. Download the MindBody app and book classes from your phone