I still recall trying to recover from a meniscus injury four years ago. Luckily the surgery was arthroscopic and the invasion was minimal. In two weeks, I was prescribed a handful of pain killers and physical therapy. I omitted the former, and committed to the latter. But after a week I hit a plateau and stopped improving. Yoga was completely banned, of course, as to the doctors it had been the potential culprit for the tear. But, somehow my gut told me that I should resume with some restorative yoga. So two weeks after the surgery I came up with a safe and healing routine that actually worked wonders. I build up some strength in my quad and gently soothed the ligaments that held the thigh and shin. I was soon able to bend the knee fully and could effortlessly climb up and down stairs. Three weeks after I managed to attend dance rehearsals and gradually restored the full range of motion of the knee joint.

The secret lay in the body-mind connection that I forged during this gentle, but deep immersion. Therapeutic yoga is a soothing practice that aims to restore the body and mind to a rested, relaxed state. Restorative yoga actives the parasympathetic nervous system – allowing the body to benefit from dwelling in its restorative ‘rest and digest’ mode. Apart from dealing with injuries, this style of yoga can be beneficial for people struggling with a variety of conditions such as insomnia, asthma, migraine headaches, and chronic pain.

In most classes poses are often supported with props such as blankets, bolsters and blocks to allow the muscles to completely release tension. While this helps, I am not a great fan of propping the body too much to facilitate a deeper practice. Instead, I create gentle modifications that strengthen, stretch and release energetic blockages in the joints. Then I introduce deep breath work and focus on the self-sustaining mechanism of the body to recuperate naturally.

On a spiritual level restorative yoga teaches us that the universe is both self-organizing and self-correcting. The invisible hands that makes our heart beat and our lungs breathe is an work on a multi-dimensional level, arranging not only the extraordinary physical processes that keep us alive, but also what we experience: insights, relationships, serendipitous meetings, creative moments, falling in love, emotions and consciousness and miraculous occurrences. The Universe, in fact, is one miracle after another, one stroke of genius followed by another stroke of genius in an endless flow of opportunity for life to fulfill itself. The universe is intentional, it doesn’t do anything by accident. And so are our bodies – receptacles of perennial wisdom, vessels that are rooted in the inner knowing of what is right. It’s truly brilliant how our whole system supports itself. It’s so marvelous to watch how the liver purifies the blood; how the heart pumps oxygen to the brain; how the bladder eliminates excess; how the gut nurtures beneficial hosts to maintain a healthy intestinal flora. The difference between this natural wonder and our human “wonder”, though, is the right of choice. The embryo doesn’t have a choice whether or not to become a baby; the acorn doesn’t have a choice whether or not to become an oak; the bud doesn’t have a choice whether or not to become a blossom. We have a choice – whether to be neurotic or wise, harsh or gentle, blaming or forgiving, suspicious or trustful. When you put the natural orchestration and the right of choice together you have a consummate mechanism that has the power of the inner resolve to heal itself both physically and mentally. And that is what I call “embodied sustenance” – to nourish the cells with positive affirmations and to visualize the healing process creatively before it kicks in organically.

My experience after the surgery with restorative yoga was so profound. I not only recovered physically, but I increased my mental acuity and cultivated greater patience with myself and others. I then translated the experience into suitable routines that I adapted to my student’s and patient’s needs. The results were astounding. Some hyper patients regulated their blood pressure and reduced muscle tension. Others cured insomnia and general fatigue. Yet others blasted their immunity, improved digestions and elimination. Some female patients enhanced their fertility, and others increased their “vividness” in their daily sensory life. All felt balanced and grounded into the self-generating resources of their bodies. All accessed the state of embodied sustenance. All chose to affirm the self-regenerative power of their system. And like salamanders…they are ready to re-grow an extra pair of eyes, so they can peek into the invisible interplay of purpose and order.

This Yogea routine flows slowly and sooths the nervous system, while boosting glandular secretion and re-igniting the body’s ability to heal itself. Poses are held longer in a supported and restorative fashion as the relaxation response is elicited and the brain is oxygenated, while all the organs rinse and soak to attain optimum efficiency. Special emphasis goes to the practice of embodied mindfulness as the power of the brain to rewire itself is sparked and the cells are deprogrammed and cleansed. The main joints are oiled and the muscle tension is released, while the fascia is massaged internally. The routine rolls gracefully through the whole spectrum of asanas – back bends to open the heart and release stuck emotions; twists to detoxify, inversions to promote circulation and elicit the parasympathetic nervous system response; and forward bends to sooth and restore. An inspiring reclining creative visualization tops the whole experience and allows you to tap the self-sustaining mechanisms of the body and to maintain this innate harmony with reverence and devotion.