Molly Trayner

Professor Douglass

Oct. 10^th 2012

Second Paper-Midterm

            Restorative yoga, as I have mentioned in my first paper, is best described as a supported, conscious body and mind relaxation yoga practice.  When supported with props, the body relaxes and completely opens, releasing tension and stored-up toxins.  Restorative yoga can help relieve and manage stress, help with sleep and treat depression.  As well as help with asthma, insomnia, chronic pain and migraines.   Chest opening poses, for example, encourage breath and energy to flow through the whole entire body.  Forward bends gently lengthen all the muscles of the back.  Through the sequence of Restorative yoga practice will allow the whole body into a deep, relaxed state, allowing your mind to become quiet and reflectively finding it’s balance.  Since Restorative poses are all very gentle and held for long periods of time, almost anyone can do them.  The poses should feel natural and take little to no effort, with little to no stretch in the body.  The goal if to have your props set up so that the pose meets your body instead of your body working to meet the pose.  The philosophy behind Restorative yoga is to sink into the poses so there is no effort or stress in the body.  With complete support, the body and mind can open and relax more freely.  Because of the deep level of relaxation in restorative yoga the muscles are able to lengthen more completely in a gentle and non-threatening way

B.K.S. Iyengar from Pune, India is the founder of Iyengar Yoga and developed Restorative Yoga.  Iyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga.  Iyengar has been teaching yoga for over half a century and is one of the most creative and experienced yoga teachers in the world.  B.K.S. Iyengar was named Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world.  Iyengar has been practicing and teaching for more than 75 years.  He has written many books on yoga and philosophy.  B.K.S. Iyengar studied with Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who is often referred to as the father of modern yoga.

Iyengar is a believer of using props in yoga practices for his students to reach their perfection; Restorative yoga is a modern way of achieving the ideals that are the root of yoga’s past.  Judith Hanson Lasater, who studied under B.K.S. Iyengar, is responsible for bringing Restorative yoga to the Western world making it popular today. 

Judith Hanson Lasater is an innovative American yoga teacher and writer who lives in the Bay Area of California.  She has a doctorate in East-West psychology, and is a physical therapist.  Lasater holds the position as the president for the California Yoga Teachers Association, which she cofounded in 1974 and teaches yoga all over the world.  Lasater has been teaching yoga since 1971. Lasater has trained with B.K.S. Iyengar in India and the United States.   (Judith Hanson Lasater n.d.)  Lasater holds a senior teaching certificate from B.K.S. Iyengar in 1983.

“Certified Iyengar Yoga instructors are held to unusually rigorous standard.  Only after years of training and evaluation do they become certified. Iyengar Yoga teachers modify the classic asanas for individual students with the use of props.”  (Iyengar Yoga, National Association of the United States n.d.) With Restorative being a type yoga inspired from B.K.S. Iyengar and his form yoga.  The teachings have some of the similar of philosophies.  In Restorative, the teaching training courses cover:

·      The relaxation response and the central nervous system

·      Sequencing restorative poses for various therapeutic effects

·      The koshas and the energy body in asana

·      Creative restorative asanas for different environments, special populations, and students with limited physical abilities

·      Meditation and visualization for healing

·      Handling emotional responses and release during practice

·      Dynamic use of props.

            The five focus points in Restorative teacher training

·      Sequencing- Learning proper sequencing to move the spine in all directions.

·      Props- B.K.S. Iyengar developed restorative yoga by experimenting with props to help students get into poses without overexertion.  They are a huge part in the Restorative yoga practice.

·      Meditation-Restorative yoga is essentially meditation. Not only are you working with the body, a restorative teacher skillfully guides the student through a meditation by creating a safe, comfortable environment and guiding the breath.

·      Therapeutics- By triggering the parasympathetic nervous system, restorative yoga has many therapeutic benefits.

·      Methodology- Teaching restorative yoga requires the ability to facilitate relaxation for your students.  In order to do this, it’s important to center yourself before classes. (Restorative Yoga Teacher Training n.d.)

“Look after the root of the tree, and the fragrant flowers and luscious fruits will grow by themselves.  Look after the health of the body, and the fragrance of the mind and richness of the spirit will flow.” - B.K.S. Iyengar ("Yoga." Iyengar, Vinyasa, Restorative and Anusara Classes?

After attending the Restorative Yoga class, I look at what B.K.S. Iyengar said about looking after the root of the tree.  To be honest, I can say the most that I have truly focused on my body and it’s tree root have always been a struggle for me.  Focus, care and acceptance of my body are a difficult thing.  One of the main points of what I liked and was appreciative of being in the Restorative Yoga class was the entire focus of the body, inside and out.  What made it easy for me to focus was having the time to be in the poses as long as we did and having the focus turn within.  Each pose being different, I had many opportunities to think about each part of my body and what kind of energy I was giving it.  In the practice of Restorative Yoga, I didn’t just feel relaxed I felt self-acceptance.  When I left the class, I felt overwhelming happiness and gratitude towards my body. 

Work Cited:

"Judith Hanson Lasater." Judith Hanson Lasater. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.judithlasater.com/>.

Iyengar Yoga, National Association of the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://iynaus.org/>.

"Restorative Yoga Teacher Training." LIVESTRONG.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/368411-restorative-yoga-teacher-training/>.

"Yoga." Iyengar, Vinyasa, Restorative and Anusara Classes. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://informaorinda.com/services-at-in-forma/yoga/>.