Aisha Harley

"What we practice in class is only preparation for living our yoga in the moment to moment"

Restorative Hatha Yoga: Relax and Renew
Most of us need to be given permission to switch from the doing mode to the being mode, primarily because we have been conditioned from a very early point in our lives to over emphasize the value of doing over the essence of just being. This transformation requires being with ourselves, our breath and our experience consciously as well as comfortable and maturing into the subtleties required to honor this experience.

What is The Relaxation and Restorative Yoga Experience?
Restorative asana (postures) hold the potential to relieve the effects of chronic stress in several ways:

1. The use of props and supports provides a completely supportive environment for absolute relaxation, thus allowing all bodily systems to rejuvenate. This primary emphasis of support propagates an environment in which to emphasize "Breath Awareness." Ultimately, it is this supported breath awareness in support that facilitates absolute rejuvenation.
   
2. The restorative sequence includes passive inversions, reversing the gravitational effects on the fluid and lymph systems of the body.
   
3. The variable restorative sequences are designed to micro-move the spine in all directions. It is this approach to our practice that alternately stimulates the various visceral organs of the body in a semi passive manner, allowing for an increased cellular uptake in oxygen which facilitates a state of equilibrium in the parastolic rhythm of the body, the rhythm responsible for absorption and elimination.

Restorative Yoga is a very important component to our overall practice. It provides excellent support for post-natal yoginis, yoginis in need of moon cycle support, as well as yogins recovering from general illnesses. Both the absolute newcomer to even the well seasoned study will find treasure in this experience. THis format also proveds excellent practice sequences for both the Mysore and Open Practice sessions.

All levels of study are warmly welcomed.