RESTorative Flow at Funky Buddha
Class Purpose: Rest & Restore
In our Restorative Flow class, we weave together breath work, gentle movement, longer held poses, and stillness, so you can access slow warmth, deep stretching, body releasing, and blissful relaxation.
Our Restorative Flow is meant to guide you slowly into a state of deep rest, and in this rest, we each may find our own restoration, our own renewal.
Some of the Major Benefits of a Restorative Yoga Class:
- Relieves muscular tension, and at a level that tends to be below simply stretching
- Can boost your immune system
- Can enhance and stabilize positive mood
- Can help regulate or alleviate stress
- Can improve your capacity for healing (the slow time in class allows you space to get to know yourself more, and in turn discover your needs, moment by moment)
- Helps balance and strengthen your nervous system
When we are under stress, our Autonomic Nervous System is in an elevated sympathetic state, or what’s commonly called Fight, Flight, or Freeze. When we are calm, especially when we are consciously choosing rest, we are strengthening and elevating our parasympathetic state (our calming system), or our “rest and digest, tend and befriend” states of being. We need BOTH systems to work really well! The challenge with our stress state is that it is very commonly overactive, and many of us could use a little practice and support to turn on our calming systems.
When we choose rest and restoration, we are teaching our stress systems to work more effectively with our calming systems. We can also strengthen our ability to move from a stressed state to a relaxed state more smoothly, more consistently.
With all the benefits that a restorative practice can provide, why do we have a mix of class types? Variety is the spice of life! Plus, this gives you a chance to decide what YOU might need on a given day.
More powerful yoga classes, like our Power Flows or Power Flows with Music, have very similar benefits to a restorative class, just in a different way. Power Flows can be so invigorating and help us maintain our attention on the present moment, as we need our attentional focus when physically challenged. Power Flows can also move a lot of energy!
Some days we need rest. Some days we need big, powerful movements. You get to choose what classes best support you on any given day, and we’ll be here to guide you through.
What to Expect in Restorative Flow:
- Very gentle movement with lots of support
- Ex: No High Planks or Crescent Lunges with knees up, all poses are supported
- Mostly longer-held poses, with very gentle, passive stretching
- No active stretching
- Dedicated time for breath practices
- Still a heated space, generally less sweat due to long-held and supported poses
After the initial 10-15 minutes of very gentle and warming movements, you can expect to be supported by your mat, blocks, and any other props you’d like to bring. Each pose after the warming section will be held for up to 7 minutes, so you can rest into each posture and let your body settle into deep relaxation and ease.
Finally, I’d like to share my own experience in restorative yoga. I’ve found that slowing down my practice gives me the time I need to really get to know my own needs, beyond my mind’s desire to work hard and move energy (although these things are SO important to my overall well-being!). In slowing down, I’ve been able to work with an injury and heal it in a new way, I’ve noticed many nuances and small delights in my breathing practice, and generally notice a renewed sense of ease.
I do continue to love Power Flows! And, have found as much as I really enjoy a physically challenging practice, my body has also been delighted in the slow, easeful space of a Restorative Flow. New healing, new awareness, and renewed dedication to my practice.
We’d love to invite you to enjoy your own benefits of a Restorative Flow. Rest your way into a more grounded you.
Wishing you rest and ease,
Larissa (Executive Director, and lover of rest and resourcing)
See you soon!
