You’ve probably heard that word, Vinyasa. You also know what restorative is — what it feels like to have your mental and physical energy restored.
So what’s the difference between restorative yoga vs vinyasa yoga?
Which is right for you?
More importantly, which one will benefit you the most?
Typical Elements of Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa means “sequence”, in this case of poses. These classes are often called “flow” classes. The poses follow one another in a flow of movement.
They are also often “hot” classes, which means the room temperature is quite hot so that you will sweat. The heat warms your muscles so that you can perform the poses more easily without support, that means without props. In a typical vinyasa class, there are no props such as blocks, blankets, or bolsters.
Vinyasa classes often involve instructions for breathing, both in and while moving between poses. Vinyasa breathing is usually a forceful breathing. The point is to give you a focus and keep you oxygenated while performing poses that, due to the alignments used, tighten your muscles, especially those that attach to your spine. These alignments also tighten your core. This is why many vinyasa classes provide “core strengthening” exercise.
A Vinyasa class is a workout, an exercise class. You will sweat and ‘challenge’ yourself. You will create a lot of tension in your body. The class is meant, by design, to put you on the ‘edge’ of your strength and endurance, just as a challenging workout does.
People who practice Vinyasa yoga often say that they don’t especially enjoy the classes, but they like the way they feel when it’s over, just as they do with a rigorous workout.
They are happily exhausted and have ‘worked out’ which they know is good for them. They have gotten their bodies moving and their blood flowing. They have pushed themselves and learned to focus on something subtle, like their breath, while undergoing something they are not especially enjoying.
Restorative Yoga vs Vinyasa Yoga
The purpose of the restorative yoga techniques, especially restorative yoga poses is not to give you a workout, but to give you the opportunity to restore your mental clarity and physical comfort, all without pushing or straining.
Instead of creating tension in your core and tightening your muscles (core strengthening), Contemplative Practice Yoga® classes are restorative because they release tension in your core and in the muscles throughout your body. Once that tension is released here’s what happens:
Your body becomes more fully oxygenated through increased blood flow. You don’t need to force your breathing to push oxygen into your body because your muscles are less tense. Tight muscle tissue inhibits the flow of blood and oxygen to your tissues and to your brain by compressing the arteries and veins.
The release of muscle tension allows the arteries and veins in your muscle tissue to flow more effectively – carrying oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and the organs throughout your body.
Increased blood flow and oxygen benefit your body in many ways. And because you have released the tensions, the increased flow continues throughout your day, rather than only taking place while pressure pumping breath during a workout.
Increased blood flow and oxygen increase physical comfort and overall health.
When tensions in your body are released you also feel calmer and more tranquil. You have mental clarity and physical ease.
Our core release technique is unique to Contemplative Practice Yoga.®
At the end of a restorative class or therapy session using restorative yoga poses with props, you leave feeling rested, refreshed, calm, and clear-minded, all without having pushed, strained, or forced yourself into uncomfortable positions.
Restorative Yoga is a Different Kind of Challenge
Vinyasa classes, like workouts, are typically focused on a certain kind of self-challenge, taking yourself to the edge of your abilities and discomfort.
Restorative yoga classes are not concerned with how hard can you push yourself or take yourself to the edge of your abilities.
The challenges presented in a restorative class are:
How comfortable can you be?
Are you comfortable being at ease, calm, and comfortable?
Restorative Yoga vs Vinyasa Yoga – What’s right for you?
If you want a workout, if you want to sweat, push, strain, and challenge the edge of your abilities and strength, then a Vinyasa-style class will provide that for you, especially at advanced levels.
If you’re ready to feel comfortable in your body, at ease in your mind, calm, and clear, without pushing, straining, or forcing, then Contemplative Practice Yoga® is for you. This is a restorative yoga using therapeutic techniques in restorative yoga poses, whether in classes or private therapy sessions.