Do you suffer from exhaustion, burn-out, stress or anxiety? Then you should be making time for yoga in your week. Of course, the irony is you probably don’t have time because you are so busy! But restorative yoga is one of the most important things you can do for your mental health and wellbeing. At our beautiful yoga studio in Grange, we offer restorative yoga classes to help balance your nervous system and find inner calm.
Modern society is in the midst of a crisis of dis-ease stemming from our overly busy lifestyles. We have become incredibly adept at filling every single moment of each day with ‘doing’, from the minute we wake up and pick up our digital devices, to the moment we collapse exhausted into bed at the end of the day.
Technical advancements designed to improve productivity also mean that we are always ‘on’ and constantly in demand. In our drive to get ahead, to compete, to improve, or to simply stay afloat, time has become a precious resource that we can’t afford to waste, and busyness has become something we wear like a badge of pride.
If this sounds familiar you are not alone. But our addiction to busyness is taking its toll on our nervous system. Stress, anxiety and burn-out are endemic in western society, and The World Health Organisation projects that chronic ‘lifestyle’ related illnesses will account for 70% of total global deaths by 2030. We have reached a tipping point and it’s time to restore balance to our ever-demanding lifestyles.
The autonomic nervous system and restorative yoga
When we spend most of our time in a state of ‘stress’ our heart rate is elevated, our digestive system is inhibited, and the body secretes cortisol and adrenaline. This is known as the body’s ‘fight or flight’ mode, the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Essential to keep us safe from occasional danger, useful when urgent and important things need ‘doing’, but much less helpful on a long-term basis when it can lead to high blood pressure and chronic illness.
Conversely, when we feel at ease, our heart rate decreases, our digestive system is stimulated, and the body secretes serotonin and melatonin that boost our mood and promote healthy sleep patterns. This is known as the body’s ‘rest & digest’ mode, or the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Essential for optimal health and healing and our natural state of ‘being’.
All good yoga classes will incorporate an element of relaxation, but restorative yoga is specifically designed to elicit the body’s natural relaxation response. In a restorative yoga class you will be lead into gentle yoga poses supported by lots of props where you become still and completely relax. Your teacher will guide you to rest and cultivate a sense of deep calm through simple breathing and meditation techniques. In doing so we deactivate or lower the processes of the sympathetic nervous system and promote the processes of the parasympathetic nervous system to support both physical and mental health.
Restorative yoga classes in our Grange yoga studio
If you are persuaded that you should be making time for restorative yoga in your week, try our fortnightly Relax & Restore classes on alternate Friday evenings in our tranquil Grange yoga studio, the perfect way to relax and unwind at the end of a busy week. We also offer Release & Relax classes (incorporating some gentle movement) every Tuesday evening, and regular Yin Yoga classes for a deeper stretch. For those seeking more energising classes with more movement you might enjoy our Rise & Shine, Vinyasa or Slow Flow classes. Our 3 or 5 Class Intro Passes are perfect for new students wishing to trial the studio and find your preferred yoga classes and teachers. Our comprehensive schedule of daily classes makes it easy for you to find time for yoga in your week, or carve out a few hours one weekend to join one of our monthly yoga workshops. Your nervous system will thank you for it.