Restorative yoga is a deeply relaxing practice that helps relieve stress. A hectic lifestyle is the biggest host to stress. Through Restorative Yoga, deep relaxation therapy can be attained. Restorative Yoga is a slow-paced practice that holds poses for long to attain deep relaxation. The practice opens up the body by being in specific positions and gives a completely different experience than most of the more rigorous traditional and contemporary yoga styles.
There are three main components of the restorative style: use props all the time, transition into the poses slowly, and hold the poses for a longer period of time. During a restorative yoga practice, the yogis can make use of props like blankets, blocks, and bolsters for support. It also encourages long hold as it allows the muscles to relax, stills the mind, improves your mood and its healing capacity, and is an amazing and effective antidote to stress.
Here are the top four restorative yoga poses to help reduce stress:
Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose)
While performing the pose, you start feeling at ease and experience a neutral sensation in the pelvic region releasing all the stress from the body and mind.
How to do the pose:
Lie straight on the floor on your back near the wall with hands placed beside the body.
Now breathe in and as you exhale, lift your legs up from the hips, and place them against the wall.
Place your hands on your back for support. You can use a block or bolster for the same.
Breathe gently and be in the pose for a while and relax.
Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose)
Restorative Yoga poses are the best way to relieve stress and feel rejuvenated. This pose gives a heavenly experience. It opens the heart, calms the mind, relaxes the body, and of course, releases stress.
Lie down on a floor and place a bolster that can support your head to the back.
Now fold the knees and join the soles. Place a block under the knees and let your arms rest beside the body.
Free your body and hold the pose for 5-10 minutes.
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Supported Bridge Pose)
It is a great asana to have a restorative backbend to relax the spine, relieve back pain, and reduce stress.
Lie straight on the floor on your back, and keep the hands beside the body.
Now inhale and bend the knees and feet placed flat on the floor.
Then lift the back and hips upward and support it with the head, shoulders, and hands.
Roll the shoulders inward to feel a slight lift in the chest.
Now place a block under the sacrum for support and let your arms rest beside the body.
Hold the pose for 5 minutes. Then remove the block and slowly lower your back.
Salamba Balasana (Supported Child Pose)
Balasana is one of the most relaxing poses that totally resets your entire being. It is a great yoga posture to release the negative thoughts and to be more positive. Restorative Child Pose releases shoulder tension and relaxes the abdomen area, hip, and chest. It provides stillness to the mind and relaxes the body.
Sit on the floor on your knees with an erect spine and hands on the thighs.
Make sure your hips are placed on the heels. Now place a bolster or blanket in front.
Take a deep breath and fold the upper body forward over the prop. And rest your arms alongside the support.
Turn your head to one side and hold the pose for 5 minutes.
Conclude the session in Savasana. Experience deep relaxation and bring back the lost equilibrium.
By Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveler in India. He provides Yoga Teacher Training in India, Yoga teacher training in nepal, kerala and thailand. He loves writing and reading the books related to yoga, health, nature and the Himalayas.
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