Unlike the more active styles of yoga where poses "flow" into one another, in restorative

Yoga poses are held from three- ten minutes sometimes to as long as twenty minutes. During this time, you are held in "shapes"while being supported with blankets, blocks, or bolsters (pillows). The shapes emulate the forms of some more active poses found in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, or Iyengar such as a back bend, forward bend, twist, or inversion. When you are in the poses you are completely supported in a particular shape, which helps achieve the desired benefit-it could open up your lungs, release tension in your lower back etc.

In any style of yoga, part of the practice is about letting go of the ego. Restorative yoga is no different. Yoga teaches patience, devotion, and faith. When you apply the teachings both on and beyond the mat, your mind is better able to adjust to the stresses of everyday life and is brought into harmony with your body. In restorative yoga, the body and mind are brought into balance, and begin to “talk" to each other. When you practice this type of yoga,you enter into a state of deep relaxation. It is here that you can “let go" ' of those deep holding patterns in your body and find a state of balance that will allow your body to heal. The best way to describe the benefits of restorative yoga is to perhaps ask what aren't the benefits of restorative yoga? If you have suffered from stress,trauma, injury, or illness, this practice can help you heal. If you are just a regular person, with a normal amount of stress in your life, and want to continue to feel good in your body, this practice will help you maintain that well-being. Ultimately, everyone wants to feel at ease in his or her own body, and to achieve a sense of union with their true nature. This is the main “goal" of yoga, and it is what we all deserve to achieve in our lifetime. You see, both physical and mental activities influence each other, creating imbalances in the body. Restorative yoga is a process that leads to self-discovery. It helps bring the mind and body into balance by creating the mind's awareness of the body's limitations; as you become more connected to your physical body, you are able to better connect to your emotional body, discover and settle what ails you.