Ashby Anna - Restorative Yoga: Power, Presence and Practice for Teachers and Trainees

I believe that Anna Ashbys important book is destined to become a classic and the signature book on Restorative Yoga. A much-needed guide in this age of chaos and stress.

Max Strom, author of A life Worth Breathing, 3x TEDx speaker
and global teacher of yoga and healing breathing patterns

This considered book is a timely reminder that the essence of yoga is by definition restorative. Anna Ashbys years of practice and teaching reflected in her inspired writing, not only point the way to a profoundly authentic yoga experience, but make you want to get out the props and accept her invitation there and then. A valuable contribution to the profession.

John Stirk, author of The Original Body: Primal Movement for Yoga teachers and Deeper Still: Authentic Embodiment for Yoga Teachers

Anna is one of my favourite teachers of all time. She is a teachers teacher and has the ability to keep things simple and straight talking. It was in her Restorative classes that I had the Restorative light-bulb moment. As I have gotten older, having a Restorative practice and a meditation practice has been essential to my mental and physical self-care practice. Anna has the ability to explain the benefits of the Restorative practice and how important it is to pay attention to the nervous system in such a way that you shift your perspective. We have spent our lifetime learning how important doing is. Anna is reminding us of the importance of being.

Nadia Narain, co-author of the bestselling book Self-Care for the Real World

Anna Ashbys approach to Restorative practice reflects not only her years of practice, but the nuance and wisdom she brings to everything she teaches. Highly recommended.

Sally Kempton, author of Meditation for the Love of It
and Awakening Shakti

Relaxation and alertness together are the axis in which a joyful, peaceful and compassionate life spins. How does one refine the ability to drop into this combined state of being? This is the task Anna has taken on in Restorative Yoga and she has succeeded profoundly. She answers the why and the how and leaves us with a practice manual essential for everyday sanity and health.

Rodney Yee, international yoga teacher and co-director of Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT)

of related interest

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RESTORATIVE
YOGA

Power, Presence and Practice
for Teachers and Trainees

Anna Ashby

Foreword by Richard Rosen

Illustrations by Sarah J. Coleman

Photography by Karen Yeomans

First published in Great Britain in 2022 by Singing Dragon An imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers

An imprint of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

An Hachette Company

Copyright Anna Ashby 2022

Foreword copyright Richard Rosen 2022

Illustrations copyright Sarah J. Coleman 2022

Photographs copyright Karen Yeomans 2022

Front cover image source: Karen Yeomans. The cover image is for illustrative purposes only, and any person featuring is a model.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library and the Library of Congress

ISBN 978 1 78775 739 4

eISBN 978 1 78775 740 0

Jessica Kingsley Publishers policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Carmelite House

50 Victoria Embankment

London EC4Y 0DZ

www.singingdragon.com

Medical disclaimer

The information contained in this book is not intended to replace the services of trained medical professionals or to be a substitute for medical advice or formal Restorative Yoga training. The complementary therapy and yoga practices described in this book may not be suitable for everyone to follow. You are advised to consult a doctor before embarking on any complementary therapy programme and on any matters relating to your health and wellbeing, and in particular on any matters that may require diagnosis or medical attention. Furthermore, practising under the direct supervision and guidance of a qualified and experienced Restorative Yoga teacher is recommended and may reduce the risk of injury.

Permissions

Jackie Morris for The Unwinding and Other Dreamings

Bill Mahony for his translations of Taittirya Upaniad

Models in photos: Yvonne OGarro and Sherman Sam

Shared experiences of Restorative Yoga: Andy Beyst, Felicity Daly, Jodie Jackson, Joyce McMiken, Malcolm Stern, Sarah Deco and Yvonne OGarro

Copyright

Photographs by Karen Yeomans

Illustrations by Sarah J. Coleman/https://inkymole.com

To my mother source, sustenance and role model extraordinaire

and

To the yoga practices and teachings that nourish and guide

Power

Become still and turn inwards.

Supported and safe, be at ease.

Rest and heal.

Experience the aliveness within.

Awaken

to Fullness of Being.

Presence

Experience the moment

as it unfolds;

Soft, abiding fullness.

Where self meets Self

And merges

in ecstasy.

An ever-present Joy.

Practice

Feel into, sense and know,

inner being as

Sanctuary;

Discipline,

a wellspring that liberates.

Turn inwards and

Listen.

Much like the Hatha Yoga we in the West practise today, Restorative Yoga is both very old and very new. It has a humble beginning. Lie on your back on the ground like a corpse, wrote the yogi Swtmrma in the Hahapradpik (Light on Hatha Yoga), slightly more than 500 years ago. This is avsana , the Corpse pose. It does away with fatigue and brings rest to your conscious mind (1.32). To us, accustomed as we are to our teachers detailed instructions, Swtmrma barely skims the surface. But we should remember these old texts were more like summaries or outlines of the teaching; the specifics on how to put that teaching into play were passed by word of mouth from the guru to the student.

Nonetheless, in Swtmrmas two brief sentences we see the rudiments, the how and why, of our modern Restorative practice: were to lie supine on the ground (the most stable and secure of all positions) and maintain a corpse-like stillness (which has a corresponding effect on the brain) that promises to re-invigorate the body and calm the mind. Over the 400 years following the Hahapradpik , in the dozen or so texts I searched, the written instruction for the pose stays pretty much the same. Lie down on the floor like a corpse, reads the mid-19th-century rtattvanidhi (Blessed Treasure of Reality), this is avsana (70). Also, during this same time, Corpse is apparently used mostly, if not exclusively, to put the finishing touch on an sana practice.