Learn to Really Relax!
By
Restorative Yoga by Elenaray, Dreamstime
The past couple of weeks have been kind of crazy! I’ve had foot surgery, been teaching my regular classes during the day, teaching a community college course two nights a week and also been getting ready for a big art exhibit with my students. Not to mention two field trips in the last week, along with trying to maintain some type of personal life.
I didn’t really plan for all this to happen in such a short time span, it just did. I’ve been feeling pretty tired to put it mildly, due to my body trying to heal from the surgery at the same time as so much external “stuff” occurring.
My regular schedule of yoga went out the window after the foot surgery, because I couldn’t put any extra pressure on my toes (not after standing all day – in open toed shoes of course!). I was sleeping a lot but still seemed run down a little. I was a little nervous to even go to my regular yin class because my toes had been so sore. Then my body gave me the signal it was time to do some exercise again – a severe muscle cramp in my leg, and I think I even fell asleep while sitting upright getting ready for work one day!
I had a day off work, and I realized there was a yin class at the gym, so I decided to be brave and go to class. What a relief to gently move my body and feel some of the built up tension escape from my muscles. It just happened that there was a restorative yoga workshop that same evening. I was feeling so good after the yin class that I signed up. What a great decision! After the yoga workshop I felt a sense of renewal and a deep relaxation that sleep alone or even meditation did not satisfy. The next day following the workshop I felt muscles in places I didn’t even know I had muscles! Even though I was doing “restorative” poses and totally relaxing, there was a lot going on in my body.
Restorative yoga is a practice that uses props such as blankets, bolsters, blocks, straps etc. to support your physical body so you can truly relax. It can release physical and emotional tensions, soften muscles, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and improve sleep to name just a few. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system which we engage when we truly relax. It also gets stuck energy moving in your body. This aids in increased immune function, reduced stress hormones, and relaxed muscles among other things.
I found such a relief and healing doing the restorative workshop, that I have committed to do a twenty minute practice each day at home. If you’re feeling stressed, exhausted from overwork, recovering from grief or illness, or are just generally run down, try a restorative yoga practice and enjoy the benefits yourself!
Do you listen to your body when it gives you signals that it is “overloaded”, stressed, or needs some attention?
What strategies do you use to diffuse stress in your body?
Would you consider trying restorative yoga?
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