A Restorative Yoga Fairy Tale

Greetings! Have you ever felt so fatigued or stressed that you could not find the energy to practice the most basic yoga postures that you learned in a Level I class? Have you ever looked at the schedule from your favorite yoga studio for a class to restore your mind and body into an aligned relaxed natural state, in which self healing may occur without effort, and suddenly noticed the words Restorative Yoga following an Iyengar Level II class. The description on the flyer says one-hour class to restore the body and the mind.  Now you ask yourself, "What is restorative yoga and how can it work to reduce chronic stress?"   

Yoga is not a one-size fits-all form of exercise. It is a practice that fits everybody regardless of age or condition at the time that they want to practice. The student must find a style that most fits their personality or their needs to get the greatest benefit. If you go to a bookstore or look on the web under "yoga", you will see a vast collection of yoga books and styles. The styles most frequently mentioned are Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar, Kripalu, Kundalini and Viniyoga as these are the most popular in the West. All of these styles have their own philosophical basis as conceived by their individual creator. One in particular, Iyengar (B.K.S. Iyengar of Pune, India) conceived of yoga as an art and a science in which props can be used to assist the student in performing a posture regardless of his/her limitations or condition. Consequently, restorative yoga, which relies heavily on props such as blankets, cushions and pillows as well as the floor, is rooted in the Iyengar tradition.
 
I believe that restorative yoga was really the brainchild of a blanket and bolster manufacturer in India who was facing bankruptcy and suffered from great worry and stress. Fortunately, he practiced Iyengar yoga and thought, well if I can use blocks, straps and chairs why can't I use my blankets and pillows to heal myself?  And so he did. Using his sturdiest blankets, his finest pillows and the floor, he created a soft comforting environment allowing his body to heal. Once his stress was reduced, he focused on getting out the message about his discovery to the thousands of townspeople. People flocked to his tiny shop to buy the blankets and bolsters and very soon he was able to pay off his debts and reduce his stress completely. Sounds like a yogic fairy tale and maybe it is, but this little tale may be closer to the truth than we know.  

Lying on the floor enveloped in pillows and blankets in Savasana creates the feeling of expanded space and peace, thus reducing chronic stress. Thus, yoga therapy promotes natural healing. Dr. S. V. Karandikar of Pune, India (who studied with Iyengar) observed, "As we grow older our body shrinks and the spaces between the body tissues and the skeletal joints decrease. This anatomical distortion leads to physiological dysfunction, resulting in pathological changes. The regular practice of yoga stretches and strengthens the different muscle groups and creates space in the body. This helps to bring back to normal the physiological functioning of the different anatomical systems, which enables nature to re-arrange and repair the diseased parts of the body the natural way."*

In Judith Lasater's book, Relax and Renew, this Iyengar trained yogini demonstrates in words and pictures how the reader can set up a restorative practice at home or away to travel to the state of relaxation by "quieting the gross movements of the body." Let me warn you that this style of yoga is not about doing. It is about actively relaxing so that you can lose sense of time and place to allow a wonderful sensation of peace to permeate your whole being.
 
In one of my recent Sunday morning yoga classes I taught legs up the wall (Viparita Karani) at the opening of my class while the students practiced the diaphragmatic three-part breath. By lying still on a soft mat, inverted on the floor with the heels of the feet touching the wall and focusing on the breath, my students had the opportunity to just let go and relax prior to the hour-long class. The results of this simple posture were evident to me, as the students appeared more relaxed and alert while fully enjoying the present moment.       

Debbie is affiliated with Susquehanna Health and Wellness in Timonium, Md. She graduated from the Integrative Yoga Therapy teacher training and interned with two local nursing homes and the International Association of Yoga Therapists in San Francisco. Her classes focus on precise biomechanical alignment, increased strength and awareness as well as the management of stress. To learn more, visit www.yogamaryland.com . Many thanks to Susquehanna Yoga.

Reprinted with Permission
Susquehanna Yoga
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