Restorative Poses

Ah, some of my favorite asanas are restorative poses. These poses are intended to reduce stress and restore health. Try winding down from a stressful day, by resting in savasana (corpse pose). It feels great and can calm the mind and body.

Most restorative poses can be held for 10 minutes or longer because of their relaxing nature, which makes these poses practical exercises, if recovering from illness or injury. For greater ease, props such as blankets, bolsters, chairs, or straps can be used to prevent strain while in a restorative pose.

While in a restorative pose, pay attention to any areas of tension within the body, then breathe into this spot, letting the exhalation release the tightness. Restorative poses should bring about a sense of relaxation, renewal, effortlessness, and ease by soothing the nervous system and releasing deeply held tension.

Some common restorative poses are:

• Balasana (child’s pose): a resting posture which can be used between challenging asanas.
• Savasana (corpse pose): a reclining posture to slow down the heart rate, reduce fatigue, and deeply relax the body.
• Supta baddha konasana (reclining bound angle pose): a hip opening position which will improve circulation and stimulate abdominal organs. For full relaxation benefits, place bolsters or blankets beneath the outer thigh for support, if the inner thigh and groin stretch is too much.

Another restorative pose that I particularly enjoy practicing is viparita karani (legs up the wall pose), which elevates the legs above the head. It’s a treat for achy legs and tired feet, but the benefits don’t stop there. Relief for mild backaches is another one of its therapeutic applications. The pose is also well known for preventing varicose veins and stabilizing blood pressure.

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