In a world that rarely pauses, where productivity is worn like a badge of honour and “busy” has become the default answer to “how are you?” Restorative Yoga offers something radical: permission to slow down, feel, and integrate.
You may have seen it on a studio schedule or heard whispers of it from a friend who swears it changed their life, but still wonder: What exactly is Restorative Yoga? And more importantly, how can it help me at this moment in time?
Let’s explore what this practice truly is—and why it’s not just helpful, but essential for our collective well-being.
What Is Restorative Yoga?
Restorative Yoga is a gentle, deeply restful practice that uses props—bolsters, blankets, blocks, straps—to support the body in positions of ease. Unlike other styles of yoga, there’s no pushing, pulling, or breaking a sweat here.
In a typical Restorative class, you may move through only four or five postures in an hour, each held for 5–20 minutes. The intention is not to do more, but to do less—to cultivate stillness and invite the nervous system to shift into a state of deep rest and repair.
It’s not about achieving a pose. It’s about allowing the body to settle, so the mind and heart can follow.
Rest vs. Sleep vs. Restorative Yoga
One of the most common misconceptions is that Restorative Yoga is just “nap time” with fancy props. But here’s the thing: rest is not the same as sleep, and Restorative Yoga is a specific therapeutic form of rest.
Sleep is essential, but it doesn’t always restore us—especially if we’re holding chronic stress or tension in the body. You can have a full 8 hours of sleep and still hold deep patterns of stress and tension in your body and mind. Restorative Yoga offers a kind of conscious rest that allows both the body and the mind to downshift, to soften and integrate the experiences of your day. It’s intentional. It’s allowing. And it’s powerful.
When we rest in this way, the body has an opportunity to shift from fight-or-flight (sympathetic nervous system) into rest-and-digest (parasympathetic nervous system). Over time, this retrains our nervous system to recognize safety—not just in stillness, but in slowness and presence.
The Science of Deep Rest
We now know what yogis have long understood: deep rest heals.
Research shows that practices like Restorative Yoga can:
- Reduce cortisol levels (stress hormone)
- Improve sleep quality
- Support immune function
- Decrease blood pressure
- Help manage anxiety and depression
- Improve heart rate variability (a sign of nervous system resilience)
- Improve recovery time
- Support greater creativity
From a physiological perspective, this practice regulates the nervous system. From a spiritual perspective, it reconnects us with our innate wholeness. And for many of us, it’s one of the few places we can learn to feel truly safe and let go.
Why Restorative Yoga Matters More Than Ever
1. We’re collectively exhausted
We’re living through a time of nervous system overwhelm—personally, socially, environmentally. Many of us are holding unprocessed stress, grief, and trauma in our tissues. Even if we’re “managing” day-to-day, our bodies are wired tight beneath the surface.
Restorative Yoga offers a sanctuary—a sacred pause—where the body can exhale, the mind can slow, and the heart can begin to soften.
This isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.
2. Burnout is on the rise—especially for caregivers and helpers
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, therapist, healthcare worker, or yoga teacher yourself, you’re likely pouring energy out constantly. And if you’re not replenishing in equal measure, the result is burnout: fatigue, irritability, disconnection.
Restorative Yoga meets burnout with compassion. You don’t have to “do” anything. You are allowed to be held, supported, and nourished.
3. We’re disconnected from our bodies and our breath.
Modern life pulls us into our heads.
We think faster, scroll longer, and move quickly. Our culture rewards busyness, but often at the cost of our felt sense of being.
Restorative Yoga gently guides us back into the body—not to fix or force it, but to listen. To feel. To inhabit. This return to embodiment is where healing begins.
My Approach to Restorative Yoga: The Practice of Sacred Rest
I guide Restorative Yoga not just as a sequence of poses, but as a ritual of sacred rest. Each practice is an invitation to return to yourself—layer by layer, breath by breath.
In my sessions and trainings, I blend deep traditional yogic wisdom with the western nervous system science. I hold space for what arises. I believe rest is more than medicine, it is a return home. And I centre gentleness, curiosity, and deep listening.
I also believe Restorative Yoga is for every body. No experience is needed. No flexibility required. Just the willingness to pause—and receive.
What to Expect in a Restorative Yoga Practice
- Supported postures using bolsters, blankets, and props
- Extended asana (5–20 minutes per posture)
- Minimal movement, lots of stillness
- Guided breath, meditation or silence
- A sense of deep calm and clarity afterward
If you’re practicing with me, you’ll likely begin with a soft landing—a gentle arrival ritual. I may guide you through a body scan or breath awareness before we ease into our first shape. You’ll be invited to let go of effort, to soften around resistance, and to explore what rest feels like in your body. You will be reminded that Yoga is a all encompassing practice, where all the parts of yourself are welcome.
How to Begin Your Restorative Journey
You don’t need fancy equipment to start. A quiet space, a couple of pillows, a folded blanket or large towel, and a willingness to rest are all you need. Most importantly, give yourself permission.
Rest is not a reward. It’s a right.
If you’re curious to experience this firsthand, I invite you to download my free “Restorative Yoga Starter Kit” below. It includes a short practice, tips on setting up a home sanctuary, and a guided breath audio to help you downshift at the end of your day.
Final Thoughts: Rest Is Revolutionary
To rest in a world that demands hustle is an act of rebellion.
To listen to your body instead of overriding it is a return to truth.
To create space for stillness—especially when the world feels chaotic—is healing for you and everyone around you.
Restorative Yoga isn’t a trend. It’s a timeless practice that meets us exactly where we are and gently guides us back to who we are.
And right now, that return feels more important than ever.
Ready to Begin?
Download your free Restorative Yoga Starter Kit and join my email list to receive weekly inspiration, gentle practices, and updates on upcoming offerings—including my Autumn Restorative Yoga Immersion + Teacher Training.