Why do restorative yoga? Discover the reasons why you should go and try restorative yoga.
If you are interested in healing your mind and body, you may have heard about restorative yoga. Restorative yoga is a specific type of yoga that focuses on improving your physical and mental health. You should do restorative yoga because it can enhance all areas of your life, including your mental health, physical comfort, muscles, joints, and more.
So, here are five reasons why you should go restorative yoga.
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What is Restorative Yoga?
Restorative yoga is a specific subset of yoga that focuses on holding yoga poses for longer durations than a typical yoga class. In restorative yoga, you typically hold poses for between five and 20 minutes, compared to regular yoga, where you hold poses from a few sections up to five minutes.
Restorative yoga often incorporates more props than a traditional class. Some of the equipment that might be used include chairs, blankets, and blocks. This equipment makes it easier for students to hold specific positions.
Restorative yoga also focuses on deep relaxation that emphasizes the meditative aspect of yoga compared to other yoga classes. The goal is to help people in the class bring their minds and body together, which encourages healing.
Typically, restorative yoga classes are mellow and low energy. Therefore, they are often recommended to complement some of the more active yoga classes, including hot yoga. You might also be interested in our Reiki yoga and Purna yoga guides.
5 Reasons Why You Should Do Restorative Yoga
1. Improve Your Stress Management
Lots of people enjoy restorative yoga because it can help them with their stress management. Restorative yoga is helpful with stress management because it lowers your heart rate and calms your mind, allowing you to think clearly. Restorative yoga allows you to leave your stresses at the door, feeling your anxieties dissipate as you go through each pose.
Check out our explainer on how do runners recover.
2. Treat Chronic Pain
Pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek the attention of a healthcare professional. If you find yourself dealing with chronic pain, restorative yoga can help you. Restorative yoga can improve your strength and flexibility, giving vulnerable areas of your body the support they need.
It could be an effective treatment option if you suffer from chronic pain. Before you try restorative yoga with a chronic medical condition, you should speak to your doctor first. You might find our explainer on does yoga hurt at first helpful.
3. Sleep Better At Night
The average adult requires between seven and eight hours of sleep every night, but many people fall far short of this recommendation. Restorative yoga can help you calm your mind, making it easier for you to relax when you crawl into bed.
You may find that you have an easier time falling asleep and staying asleep. As a result, you may have more energy when you get up in the morning.
4. Soothe Mental Health Issues
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, restorative yoga can be helpful. Restorative yoga is a form of meditation that allows you to focus your mind and improve your well-being.
You may have greater insight into some mental health struggles, which is why it could be recommended as a part of a well-rounded treatment plan. Do not forget to talk to a mental health professional about restorative yoga first.
5. Reduce Your Chances Of Getting Hurt
Finally, restorative yoga can also reduce your chances of suffering an injury. Through restorative yoga, you can improve your flexibility and mobility, which will make it easier for your body to resist stresses in the future. It is particularly important if you are recovering from chronic injuries, but you should consult your doctor before trying restorative yoga.
Restorative yoga can help you build lean muscle in certain parts of your body, allowing you to distribute the load over a greater number of cells. This could help you reduce your chances of getting hurt.
Tips For Trying Restorative Yoga
If you are interested in giving restorative yoga a try, there are several tips you should follow. They include:
- Start low and go slow: If you are trying a new form of yoga, you need to ease into this activity. You will be expected to hold certain poses for a long time.
- Ask for help if you need it: Some of the equipment might be new to you, and you need to know how to use it properly to maximize the benefit of the class and reduce your chances of getting hurt.
- Go into the class with an open mind: Many people assume restorative yoga is easier, but if you don’t put your full effort into the class, you won’t get as much out of it.
Some yoga studios may offer trial classes that give you an opportunity to test the style before you decide if you want to sign up. Consider taking a trial restorative yoga class in your local area.
