A Guide to Restorative Yoga

Restorative Yoga is a form of conscious relaxation, or ways to conscious relieve the stress in your mind, body and soul so that you can feel less tention and your mind calms down. I have used these techniques in my own personal life, and let me tell you they work. Considering the ups and downs in 2010, just about everyone would benefit from trying these poses, from a young age to an older adult.

All you need to practice restorative yoga three folded up blankets and a pillow; thickness depends on how you feel comfortable, and a flat surface to lie on. There are 8 positions in restorative yoga, and each is used to relax and relieve tension in particular parts of your body.

Pose one is a basic pose that relaxes your upper body, such as your upper back, neck, and shoulders. First, you lay your body on the flat service with your folder blanket/s under your head. Then, bend your knees up with your feet flat on the floor, and lay your arms outstretched with your palms up. Breathing in and out through your nose for approximately 3 minutes or so, should get you started on the basic idea.

Pose two is almost the same except you place a rolled up blanket under the middle of your back, while laying flat on the floor and your knees up, and your palms still facing up. Again, you will breathe in and out through your nose. This pose is helpful for your digestive system and reproductive organs.

Pose three now brings a different lying technique, where you will prop your head with a folded towel, your full back will have a folded towel underneath, and you will touch the bottoms of your feet together with your legs spraddle apart. You will take a long folded blanket and lay the middle of the blanket on the tops of your feet, and then place each side underneath your calf muscles and then your thighs to hold it in place. This pose is good for menstration, menopause, and pregnancy.

Pose four is similar to pose one, except you will prop your legs up on a chair with a folded towel underneath your calves and heels. This pose is good for problems in your lower back and abdomen.

Pose five is a sitting position, where you take your folded blanket and place it under your buttocks, fold your legs, and lean your body forward onto a sitting chair that has a folded blanket for your arms and head. You will place your hands in front of your head and place your forehead on the end of the chair. This pose helps relax your brain, digestive system, liver and kidneys.

Pose six is a lying position, where you take a high pillow and place it on the floor and then lay your folded blanket on top of it. You then lay your body from the waist up, flat on your stomach with your arms stretched out and your palms laying flat on the floor. Then you take your lower body, and lay on your left thigh with your knees bent. This position gives you a twist in your body that will help your back muscles, spine, digestive system, and nervous system.

Pose seven is almost like a fetal position and close to pose six, except you are going to untwist your body and prop your knees up on the floor in front of your pillow and blanket, keeping your head facing one side, while breathing in and out of your nose. This position is good for poor circulation in your legs, stretching your lower back, hips, thighs, and ankles.

Pose eight, the final pose, can be used at any time relaxation is needed. This position lets you lay your whole body out, arms, legs and torso, with your folded blanket under your head and one under your knees. Relax your toes outward and spraddle your whole body. This pose is helpful for lowering blood pressure, heart rates, and muscular tension. This pose will also promote good sleep.

If you or someone you know would like to try using restorative yoga, check out www.restorewithyoga.com, where you can find pictures of each position, and more information about restorative yoga.