Restorative Yoga: The Medicine of Rest
We live in a world that worships the hustle — productivity, deadlines, job titles, the next achievement. Rest is often positioned as a luxury, a reward you only get when you’ve done enough. But here’s the truth: rest is medicine. It doesn’t need to be earned. It is a necessity for body, mind, and spirit.
Restorative yoga, sometimes called “active relaxation,” invites us into this medicine. It’s not about stretching further, sweating harder, or holding the perfect pose. It’s about slowing down, softening, and letting yourself be fully supported — sometimes for the first time in a long time.
What Is Restorative Yoga?
Restorative yoga uses props like bolsters, blankets, and pillows to support the body in long-held, comfortable postures. Unlike other yoga styles, there’s no pushing, pulling, or striving. The goal isn’t to “get somewhere” — it’s to settle into stillness and let the body do what it’s designed to do: restore itself.
The Surprise of Stillness
I’ll never forget the first time I experienced restorative yoga. It wasn’t dramatic or flashy. I was in a gentle supported backbend, barely moving, when suddenly a wave of emotion rushed through me. I felt overwhelmed by tears, even though I wasn’t “doing” much at all. And I’ve since heard the same from many others: stillness can unlock something profound.
Sometimes, in giving ourselves permission to pause, the body whispers truths it’s been holding for years.
Why Rest Matters
From a physiological standpoint, restorative yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system — the “rest and digest” mode. Stress hormones lower, muscles release, and the mind clears. Emotionally, it’s like taking a deep exhale after holding your breath for too long. Spiritually, it’s an invitation to remember who you are beneath the busyness.
What to Expect in a Class
Picture this: dim lighting, soft blankets, maybe an eye pillow. You’ll settle into 4–6 postures over the course of a class, each one supported and held for 5–20 minutes. You might drift, you might feel emotions arise, or you might simply rest. There’s no right way.
Benefits of Restorative Yoga
Physical: tension release, better sleep, immune support
Mental/emotional: evokes the parasympathetic nervous system which invites more calm and less anxiety
Spiritual: connection, presence, a taste of stillness
Bringing Restorative Yoga Home
You don’t need fancy props to begin — grab a few pillows, a blanket, and carve out 10 minutes. Try legs-up-the-wall or a supported child’s pose. The medicine of rest is available anywhere.
Restorative yoga is a reminder that rest is not lazy, it’s medicine. And sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is to stop doing. (Plus, lying on the floor with a pile of blankets is as close as adulthood gets to being tucked in for nap time — and honestly, we could all use more of that.)