2024 marks 10 years since the opening of our Brisbane yoga studio, SoHo Yoga. At the outset our focus was very much on a strong, dynamic, flowing style of yoga that was popular in a growing number of yoga studios across Brisbane. And our predominantly vinyasa yoga offering served the SoHo Yoga community well for a few years.
But as the business and community grew, and we introduced new teachers and timeslots, there was the opportunity to trial different yoga classes and styles. In the US there had been a seismic shift towards more yin restorative yoga practices, and a handful of international teachers were gaining renown for teacher trainings in Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga respectively.
While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is an important distinction. There are many similarities between Yin and Restorative yoga as both are practiced predominantly on the floor with lots of props for support during long holds, and both promote inner awareness and relaxation. The key differentiator in Yin Yoga is that ‘stress’ is applied to exercise the deeper connective tissues of the body, while the intention of a Restorative Yoga practice is deep and total relaxation.
And therein lies the key to the rise and rise of Restorative Yoga. Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.d. and physical therapist, has taught yoga around the world since 1971. Her seminal book, ‘Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times’ was first published in 1995, amidst the prolific growth of Ashtanga Vinyasa and Bikram Hot Yoga. But it is has taken most of the yoga world over 20 years to realise that what we need is not more rigour, but more rest.
"We work very hard in our lives, and while we may sleep, we rarely take time to relax. Restorative yoga poses help us learn to rest deeply and completely." ~ Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D., PT
By the time we introduced Restorative Yoga to the SoHo Yoga schedule in 2017, Judith Hanson Lasater’s latest book, ‘Restore and Rebalance: Yoga for Deep Relaxation’, was climbing the charts and her daughter Lizzie was leading sold out Restorative Yoga teacher trainings in Australia and around the world. Judith’s prophesising about the importance of rest had never been more relevant.
The modern world has left us overwhelmed, exhausted and regressing in terms of quality-of-life factors such as genuine social connection, community, mental health, and our overall sense of wellbeing. Those ‘stressful times’ that Judith alluded to in 1995 have become ubiquitous and we are finally acknowledging that something needs to change.
Restorative Yoga is the balm that we desperately need for our tattered nervous systems. When we sink into a state of deep conscious rest, we begin to down-regulate our overly stimulated sympathetic nervous system and support the body to self-heal. A balanced nervous system promotes sleep quality, a strong immune system, digestive health, lower blood pressure and cellular repair.
With awareness and experience, Restorative Yoga practices can also help us self-regulate, improve our ability to respond flexibly to daily stressors, and not get totally overwhelmed during difficult times. The flow on effect is better relationships, and improved mental and emotional health. Chronic stress and anxiety are common symptoms of a dis-regulated nervous system that can be effectively treated with Restorative Yoga practices.
It's no surprise then that Restorative Yoga has burgeoned in popularity in the past several years and classes can be found in many yoga studios around Brisbane. At SoHo Yoga studio in Grange, we currently offer fortnightly ‘Relax & Restore’ classes on alternate Friday evenings, plus weekly ‘Release & Relax’ classes on Tuesday evenings. Both classes are taught by specialist trained and experienced Restorative Yoga teachers with expert knowledge of the autonomic nervous system.