one-blanket restorative practice to boost energy & dissolve tension
When we talk about restorative yoga, we often automatically conjure the image of a pile of comfy blankets next to a few plush bolsters. It’s true that many effective restorative practices call for a consortium of props…
It’s also true that you don’t always need more than a single prop to experience deep rest.
Restorative yoga is not about how many props you use; it is about how you use them, how you relate to the support of the earth, and how you make room for your breath.
It asks us, Can we create the conditions to consciously relax?
a one-blanket restorative yoga practice
I’d love to share with you a short restorative yoga practice so you can experience rest with a single prop.
In this short demonstration that you may extend as you wish, we’ll practice a side lean with a twist and then finish with a Bridge Pose.
You won’t need anything but one blanket. (And if you don’t have a blanket at home, you can try it with a towel!)
This practice can be done at any time of day. Whether you aim to brighten your energy in the morning, dissolve tension before bedtime, or need a reset in between, it will help create space for your breath and allow you to feel refreshed.
mentorship moment for yoga teachers
Restorative yoga postures support students in promoting a healthy free-flowing breathing pattern. However, focusing on the breath can be anxiety-provoking for some people, so it’s important to offer other ways of freeing the breath.
Instead, you may try guiding poses and practices that encourage breathing but avoid producing the tension of having to learn a new skill. For example, we can incorporate movement into a restorative pose or you can guide your students into a shape that limits breathing in one area of the body in order to expand breath and create a free-flow in another area. The side lean in this one-blanket restorative posture can help with this approach.
(Through extensive pose-focus workshops in my upcoming training, I’ll share much more about how to build effective restorative practices for all of your students in a variety of shapes!)
Want to learn more?
restorative yoga teacher training starts wednesday!
Payment plans are still available! Access training material for 1 year to receive your certificate of completion.
If you are interested in learning how to practice and share the experience of deep relaxation, you may be interested in my upcoming Restorative Yoga Teacher Training!
In this 108-hour program, you'll explore the science and art of rest and relaxation through restorative yoga, so you can learn to design practices that support personal and collective healing. The curriculum includes modules from guest teachers Indu Arora, Hala Khouri, Dr. Gail Parker, Tracee Stanley, Lisa Weinert, and Dr. Christiane Wolf.
