The Art of Letting Go: 5 Guidelines To Reach Inner Peace

If you have experienced Savasana, the final resting pose in most yoga classes, you have experienced the benefits of restorative yoga.  Savasana, the ultimate restorative pose, teaches us to understand and appreciate all other poses.  I have found in my own practice that restorative yoga is an ethereal experience of space. From an outsider’s perspective, it appears as stillness. However, when we creatively use props such as bolsters, blocks, and straps to completely support our bodies, the stillness tunes us in to deeper sensations. Breath, especially the exhale, during a restorative practice connects us to the sublime.

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Does this magical portal to infinite space just happen naturally? The answer is NO and YES. The art of restorative yoga takes practice and patience. Total relaxation can truly begin only when our bodies are fully supported and able to let go. Then our hearts can open, and we can be present, and relaxed. This process awakens us to our true nature — our inner peace.

As a 26-year-old type-A personality, I attest that is takes PRACTICE to relax. More importantly though, it takes giving yourself PERMISSION. Acceptance that you are worthy of relaxation is a powerful realization. For anyone new to restorative yoga, something gentle in this ‘Power Yoga’ town, or for the professional relaxer, here are five tips I picked up on my own journey to stillness.

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1) Come to class with the intention to relax. Plain and simple. If you sign up for a Power class, you intend on moving and building heat. Do yourself a huge favor and do the same for a restorative class if you decide to sign up. You may surprise yourself with the power a simple intention can make for your practice.

2) Bring layers and wear loose comfy clothing. Restorative yoga stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and initiates the ‘rest and digest’ response. As the body begins to relax, it doesn’t have to work as hard, so it naturally begins to cool down. Being cold is one of the biggest distractions for the mind.

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3) Give yourself permission to receive the gift of a restorative practice. For a long time I didn’t believe Savasana was worthy of my time. A 5-10 minute Savasana seemed like a waste, but 75 minutes of gentle stretching and basically lying around on pillows, come on! What self-respecting, active, young person would do that….blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…. This self-talk would play over and over in my head when I was drawn to sign up for a class that didn’t have Vinyasa Flow or Power in the title. I had a very difficult time believing that if I didn’t sweat or use my muscles, that there could be a benefit.

I was wrong. Restorative yoga holds the key to harmony within the mind and body. Allow for relaxation to be an intentional act of self-love.

4) We are multidimensional beings, and we work best when our life practices are in balance. By giving ourselves the gift of restoration, of renewal, of slowing down, we are better able to spring to action and move quickly and effectively. If you are already practicing a vigorous style of yoga, the restorative practice is a powerful counterbalance to the activity and sympathetic nervous system dominance. For beginners, new to yoga, this practice is an incredible introduction to learn how to quiet the mind and dive into sensation and the breath.

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5) Be open to trying new experiences and don’t be scared to ask questions about how a pose should be supported. The first time we do anything, it is awkward because we have no idea what to expect. Trying new styles of yoga opens us up to the many lineages of movement, self-expression, and interpretations of yoga. The beauty of this practice is that we never stop being beginners, so go into a restorative class, or any class for that matter, with an open nature and a willingness to learn. You may surprise yourself with all of the space you discover!

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If you’re curious about the restorative practice, check out my upcoming workshop: ‘Heart Opening Restorative Yoga with Pranassage & Essential Oils’  on May 21st at 3-5:30pm! We will explore gentle, supported front extension, aka backbends, in a specific series to guide the chest and shoulders open, and lengthen the entire front side of the body. Using specific Pranassage, hands-on-assists, and essential oils, receivers will experience even deeper relaxation. Capacity is limited to 12 to keep an intimate, sacred space and to ensure each participant receives personalized attention.

If you are a mommy, join Susie for a Restorative Postpartum Yoga workshop on June 19th to indulge in bliss and take time for yourself.

Hope is a RYT-500, Pranassage® Practitioner and Aromatouch® Technique Certified

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