Every time I walked in class the past month, I would get multiple requests for relaxing routines. Most students were too stimulated, racing on high gear, not getting enough sleep and time to rest. Most of them asked for “restorative yoga” as they thought it was the best way to replenish, and of course restore the lost balance. Yes and No. I love restorative Yoga, when it’s crafted wisely, but it does not necessarily have a soothing effect. Restorative poses look like a piece-of-cake, but in fact are deceptively deep and require full release, as well as, and deep tissue work. They are restorative because they serve a specific purpose, mostly to do with injuries and imbalances.

I would love to make a distinction between restorative and pacifying yoga. Restorative Yoga often promotes circulation and deep myofascial release. Of course it elicits the parasympathetic nervous system and promotes relaxation, but it is a form of deep tissue massage that is not always comfortable and soothing. Restorative classes don’t always combine the full spectrum of pose types. Instead, they couple just a few poses, and encourage propping up to ensure a safe and injury-free alignment. Restorative poses are held for longer breaths. They are deep and opening, sometimes more purging than relaxing. The effect is restorative, but also cathartic.

Relaxing yoga has one goal – to sooth the nervous system; rinse out muscular tension, and most importantly to calm the mind. It does not require deep and long holding of poses, but feels more like an energetic massage. I feel it’s vital to access body parts with pent-up tension, and offer multiple poses and transitions to free up the nerve channels so the breath and oxygen could flood the entire system.

Having a class that does not necessarily peak in levels and poses is optimal, as you don’t want any strain or challenge on the way. But you do want nourishing stretches for all tendons and ligaments, and pacifying mudra and breathing practices to still the mind and elicit a relaxation response.

This sequence is very intuitive and easy-to-follow as one pose leads seamlessly to the next. The poses are accessible and fun, but also very soothing and relaxing. I favored forward bending, hip and quad opening over back bending and core-toning, as I believe this is a time to give the body and mind a breather. I also added some innovative poses to stretch the IT band and sooth the lower back, without having to ever do a Vinyasa or a Sun Salute. The few mudras practiced, spark insight and rest the mind to open up more room for inner guidance.

Relaxing Yoga Routine: Gear Down (open level)

This soft and gentle “flow” with take you through hip and quad openers to release pent-up tension, and wind you down through inversions and forward bends to chill you out and tune you in.