Grossman - Yoga Journal Presents Restorative Yoga for Life: A Relaxing Way to De-stress, Re-energize, and Find Balance

Avon, Massachusetts

To my mother and my aunt, who inspire me every day to be like the wonderful women they were.

When I first began practicing yoga, I was working in a completely different job, was commuting to the city, and had two young children at home. I came to yoga at the urging of my acupuncturist who suggested that it might help heal a swollen lymph node. I had originally gone to my regular doctor and was told that it was nothing to worry about, but that answer didnt sit well with me. I knew there was a better way to connect with myself and make myself feel better and I thought yoga might be it. I started taking class once a week, as that was all I could fit into my schedule, but soon started feeling that if I didnt practice I didnt feel as good in my body. Before I knew it, I was studying to become a yoga teacher.

The knowledge shared in this book has been passed on to me from my teachers, in the same way that yoga has been shared for many years. There are many teachers of restorative yoga, but perhaps the most well-known figure in the field is Judith Hanson Lasater, my teacher. She wrote the book Relax and Renew in 1995, and it is a wonderful resource to yoga students and teachers alike. Judith, who trains hundreds of yoga teachers a year in her Relax and Renew programs, has been an inspiring teacher, as she truly lives her yoga. She has healed herself many times with this practice, and many others as well. Not only is she a yoga teacher, she is also a physical therapist, and I feel very fortunate to have learned from someone who has such a wealth of knowledge. Because Judith has shared this practice with others, because she believes it to be her dharma (lifes work), many people will benefit from this incredibly healing practice.

I have also been fortunate to learn from Cora Wen, a gifted teacher who is a longtime assistant to Judith. Coras love of restorative yoga has only deepened my appreciation for all the multitudes of therapeutic applications it has to offer. I hope to pass these postures on to you and provide an understanding of how you can benefit from the deeply rewarding practice of restorative yoga. Im happy that youve chosen to learn more about this practice!

So why am I writing this book? Why have I chosen to pass my knowledge of restorative yoga along to you? It really wasnt a choice. Life is like that sometimes; things just keep showing up until you pay attention to them. Its how I became a yoga teacher, opened a yoga studio, and studied with whom I studied. This book came to be because this books time has come. Restorative yoga is becoming better known because there are more and more people like me out there sharing these teachings, so that people can feel good! Feeling good is our human right. This book includes associated information beyond restorative yoga; when you start the practice, you may not want to know more, but when youre ready, it will be there, waiting for you. I hope you enjoy the journey.

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and thats your own self.

Aldous Huxley, British novelist

You may have done some yoga in the past or practice it regularly, or perhaps youve never done yoga before. If you have done very little or no yoga, this book will help clarify what yoga is in general, and what restorative yoga is in particular. If you are familiar with yoga, this book will offer you a better understanding of what restorative yoga is, and how it is both similar and different from regular yoga. You will also learn more about how restorative yogas deeply healing benefits can enhance your yoga repertoire. But whether youre a beginner or an experienced yoga practitioner, you will find that the practice of restorative yoga can help you to live a long and comfortable life in the body you have. Its beauty is that everyone can do it, and everyone should. Since you only have one body, you might as well treat it in the best way you can!

So just what is restorative yoga and...

• Is it yoga?
• Is it therapy?
• Is it restful?

The answer is yes, yes, yes, and much more!

Most people know that the pace of modern life has led to many problems with our health, and at the root of most of these problems is stress. Restorative yoga focuses on undoing that stress. It functions like the more active styles of yoga, but typically works on a deeper level. Since restorative yoga poses are held longer than more active yoga poses, they have the time to penetrate your bodys systemsincluding your mindto create significant shifts in both physical and mental health. It is becoming a more popular practice, and for good reason!

Throughout Yoga Journal Presents Restorative Yoga for Life youll find the general information, poses, and sequences needed to practice restorative yoga. The information here is comprehensive, though there is a suggested reading list in the back if you want to learn further. In youll learn a variety of restorative yoga pose sequences that can target common health issues. The gentle manner of restorative yoga has proven time and again to be very effective in helping people restore themselves to health. Youll also learn how to create sequences of your own.

So whether you are only starting out in yoga, a seasoned practitioner, or even just curious about restorative yoga, this book is a great place to get started. Lets begin!

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

Hippocrates, ancient Greek physician

There are many styles of yoga, each founded in certain aims and goals of practitioners both ancient and modern. But what is restorative yoga? In this section, youll be introduced to the history of this very recent yoga practice and explore its roots. Youll also learn about restorative yogas many benefitsphysical and psychologicalthat have contributed to the popularity of the practice, and how you can use restorative yoga to feel better in your body, calmer in your mind, and happier in your life. But just learning about restorative yoga isnt enough. You also need to educate yourself about the philosophies, related practices, and bodies of knowledge that support yoga in general. Knowing a little about Ayurveda and the chakra system, in particular, can help you gain a deeper understanding of your body. So be sure to read all of the information in this first part carefully before you beginthere is a lot to know about restorative yoga!

Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.

Eckhart Tolle, writer and public speaker

You may know that there are many different styles of yoga. If you are someone who likes to sweat when you exercise, you may want to practice a more vigorous style of yoga, such as Ashtanga or Power Vinyasa. There is also Bikram yoga, which, by virtue of being practiced in a very heated room, will make you sweat. If you prefer a gentler style of yoga, you may want to practice gentle yoga, Hatha yoga, Kripalu yoga, or Iyengar yoga; while you may still sweat in these classes, they are less vigorous.

In this chapter youll learn about the relatively new practice of restorative yoga, which is unique in that it uses props to hold you in poses for a period of time, as opposed to moving at a faster pace. You see, yoga is so much more than physical exercise. It incorporates both a philosophy of how to live and physical postures that you can practice. Yoga not only increases flexibility and strength, but will also help you quiet your mind and engender a deeper connection to yourself. But what really makes restorative yoga special? Read on.