Reiki and restorative yoga have proven benefits to calm the nervous system and restore health and harmony in the body.
Yoga for Relaxation
Yes, yoga is an ancient practice, but when reverence is replaced with seriousness, I find people miss the point and get judgy. The reason for the movement part of yoga (called asana) is to prepare the body and mind to sit in meditation comfortably. It’s not so you can put your foot behind your head or balance on one hand. It is so your body can be in as little discomfort as possible to give your mind a chance to meditate and for you to live mindfully. If your yoga looks like snuggling in a blanket or following a very gentle pace, then you have found the right place.
My Yoga Practice
I personally am most comfortable when I’m relaxed and in a good mood, so I approach my practice with reverence and lightheartedness. I also prioritize gentle stretching and restful poses instead of quick movement and advanced postures. This helps me relieve anxiety and trauma symptoms while gently bringing my awareness safely into my body. I use yoga to nurture the places where I hold tension — my hips, stomach and neck — so that I can breathe fully and connect to my peaceful, inner voice. I am not overly flexible and do not actively try to achieve advanced poses. I simply use my yoga practice to be a more compassionate, peaceful and true version of myself.