Winter rest - restorative yoga to try at home
You don’t need yoga props to try this at home, sofa cushions, pillows and throws will work just as well as the items on this photo 😊
December is here! 🎅🎄And while ‘tis the season for good cheer, quite frankly, the build-up can leave some of us feeling a little overwhelmed and exhausted at times.
Giving ourselves space to unwind and slow down is vital if we want to maintain a sense of calm and balance throughout the holidays. And this is where Restorative Yoga comes in.
I was first introduced to Restorative Yoga on my Yoga for Menopause teacher training with Petra Coveney.
Petra had herself been trained in the practice by ‘the mother of Restorative Yoga’, Judith Hanson Lasater, who describes it as “... the use of props to create positions of ease and comfort that facilitate relaxation and health.”
It’s a practice that’s especially helpful for releasing tension and rebalancing your mind and body in stressful life situations, which is why I think it can be such a game-changer for busy, midlife women whether we’re navigating menopause, Christmas or anything else life throws at us!
So if you’re feeling in need of a little pick-me-up, give this a go - one of my favourite restorative poses - Viparita Karani / Legs up the Wall pose aka ‘the great rejuvenator’.
All you need to practice is:
A quiet space - the darker, the better - where you can be left uninterrupted for 15 minutes min.
A yoga mat / blanket that you can position next to a wall and lie on.
An extra blanket to cover your torso and / or one to wrap around your legs, a pillow for under the head and an eye mask are all nice optional extras.
How to step-by-step
Sit next to the wall with your right hip against it, your knees bent and your feet on the floor.
Swivel around to face the wall, lifting your legs up to rest against it.
At the same time, lie back, get settled with any additional props.
Place your hands wherever they’re most comfortable (at your sides, resting on the belly or reaching overhead etc).
Aaaannnndddd relax! Stay for as long as you need - 15 minutes minimum would be my suggestion!
For a more visual demonstration of the pose, see my recent Instagram post here or join me for the yoga for menopause seasonal self care session on Saturday 14 December - see details here.
And if you do try this at home, be sure to notice how you feel afterwards before jumping back in to where you left off! ❤️
