In the west, we often find ourselves pushing the physical limits of our yoga practice, we want to stretch more, sweat more, hold longer, breathe deeper. We forget that first and foremost we should be listening to our own body, even before we pay attention to the teacher’s queue. Rarely do I allow myself the luxury of a restorative practice, but truthfully it is a great gift you can give to yourself. Restoratives are meditative poses in which the body is supported with props and held for extended periods of time. Both soothing and regenerating, restorative poses help bring balance to our demanding daily lives. Recent neurological research shows that 20 minutes in a well supported restorative pose is equal to 2 hours worth of good sleep in terms of brainwave activity and cell regeneration.
So I'm taking this day to either go to a restorative class or use my bolster at home and do some restoring work. My shoulders have been super tight and I could feel my energy and intention crashing in my thursday evening and in my friday morning class. Clearly, it's time to re-gather my strengths to start strong again on monday and power through for two more weeks!
I also hope to get some sun, visit a farmer's market, meet up with some friends and enjoy life outside the yoga studio for a day.
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