What Is Restorative Yoga?
The practice of conscious rest—and why doing less can give you more.
Restorative yoga uses props—bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps—to support the body in passive poses held for 5-20 minutes. This extended stillness activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting deep relaxation and healing. Restorative yoga benefits anyone experiencing stress, burnout, injury recovery, insomnia, or chronic illness—and practitioners who simply need permission to rest.
The Practice of Conscious Rest
Restorative yoga asks something radical in our productivity-obsessed culture: it asks you to do less. Not less effort toward achievement, but genuinely less—fewer poses, less muscular engagement, more time in supported stillness.
A typical restorative class includes only 4-6 poses over 60-90 minutes. Each pose is held for 5-20 minutes with complete prop support so muscles can fully release.
The class structure provides a container for doing what we often won't allow ourselves.
How Restorative Differs from Other Yoga
No muscular effort: Props hold you; you don't hold poses. The body surrenders completely to support.
Extended holds: Long durations (5-20 minutes per pose) allow the nervous system to shift from sympathetic (fight-or-flight) into parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) mode.
No stretching goal: Unlike Yin yoga which targets connective tissue, restorative prioritizes complete comfort. If you feel stretch, you adjust until it disappears.
In restorative yoga, comfort is the goal. If something doesn't feel completely supported, add more props until it does.
Who Benefits Most
Chronically stressed individuals: Those living in constant fight-or-flight benefit from systematic nervous system reset.
Those recovering from illness or injury: Gentle, supported practice aids healing without strain.
Insomnia sufferers: Regular practice improves sleep quality and reduces time to fall asleep.
Anyone needing permission to rest: The class structure provides external permission to do what we often won't allow ourselves.
Active practitioners often benefit from adding one restorative class per week. The contrast between effort and rest supports overall wellbeing better than constant intensity.
Find restorative classes near you
Search for studios offering restorative and gentle yoga.
Find Studios