Re-learning how to relax.

Increasingly things that feel easy and may not require a lot of brain power are often being confused with relaxation. Our learned responses to stress can certainly trick us into thinking we are helping our body to return to a homeostatic, relaxed state. But did you know that eliciting the body’s relaxation response actually requires 4 conditions in order to take effect? A QUIET and STILL environment without sound or background noise.

A DARK environment free from stimulating details and things to judge.

A SAFE environment that induces a parasympathetic (relaxed) state. A WARM environment to encourage the body’s natural homeostatic desire.

Once these 4 conditions are met, there are then different types of relaxation techniques to drawn upon to help ease your body’s stress response whose characteristics, when employed, include slower breathing, lower blood pressure and a reduced heart rate. Perhaps it’s time to reconsider relaxation habits as practices that require more intention and dedication.

As a yoga teacher with a restorative emphasis, my ultimate intention is for each student to experience a positive brain response following my classes. Thinking we thrive on multi-tasking and emotionally sorting through ruminating thoughts combine to create constant static in the background of our nervous system. Developing skill and capacity to disengage from our stress teaches us how to regulate ourselves and thrive. I teach this skill through therapeutic modes of yoga poses, meditation, breathing techniques and self-Myofascial release. Student who enjoy and benefit from my restorative teaching the most arrive with self-accountability to re-learn relaxation as a means to better support a steady and collected inner-tone. Restorative yoga is the quintessential practice for anyone with a nervous system. Become more informed about the benefits of this style of yoga by reviewing the slides included at the conclusion of this post. Upcoming this fall, experience RESTORATIVE RECHARGE as a single 75 minute get-a-way or a 3-class package and learn how to relax again! By slotting in scheduled time for practicing informed self-care, you'll learn the value in setting the right conditions for relaxation, appreciating the non-doing experience of helping your body through the relaxation process. With one or a 3-class round, you'll gain confidence choosing to self-apply therapeutic, homeostatic-balancing yoga tools as better informed relaxation responses, that actually help your body experience relaxation.

Catch RESTORATIVE RECHARGE monthly on a Monday evening (6:30 - 7:45 pm) and twice monthly Wednesday mornings (9:30 - 10:45 am) beginning in September. Required registration at www.DoYogaWithJoy.com/register MORNING SESSIONS: Wednesdays 9:30 am | Sept. 14, Sept. 28, Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, Nov. 23 EVENING SESSIONS: Mondays 6:30 pm | Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7

Single classes $25 | Seasonal 3 Class Bundle $69