So, what is restorative yoga? There are several different styles of restorative yoga. Contemplative Practice Yoga® is restorative yoga.
In addition to being restorative, Contemplative Practice Yoga® is therapeutically oriented yoga.
What makes Restorative Yoga restorative
Restorative yoga classes focus on giving you the opportunity to restore your physical and mental energy – all without pushing or straining.
Different styles of restorative yoga and various restorative yoga poses do this in different ways. They almost all share in common a use of restorative yoga poses with props – blocks, blankets, bolsters – to help you find and maintain beneficial alignment in your poses.
The pace of the classes is slower than a workout style yoga class.
Beyond these basics, they vary in their styles, techniques, and offerings.
Restorative Yoga vs Therapeutic Yoga
There are several dimensions to Contemplative Practice Yoga® that make it not only restorative but also therapeutic yoga.
In addition to advanced Yoga Teacher Training, Kim Orr is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). She has completed an additional 3000 hours of training above and beyond advanced Yoga Teacher Training. In her small group classes, Kim adapts therapeutic techniques and protocols to the group’s needs. In private sessions, she provides you with protocols and practices specifically addressing your unique needs.
Contemplative Practice Yoga® offers a unique method of core release. Each class is designed to release tensions in your body that originate in your core, the deepest and tightest area of your body. Once you get core release in each class or therapy session, you then carry that release throughout your body.
With core tension release you get something that you don’t get in any other style of yoga class, even other restorative yoga classes.
What Contemplative Practice Yoga® Core Release Gives You
When you experience core release:
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.
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.
Contemplative Practice Yoga® classes are designed and taught within the same underlying principles that Contemplative Practice Yoga® therapy private sessions use.
Principles of Restorative and Therapeutic Contemplative Practice Yoga®
Contemplative Practice Yoga® classes are designed and taught within the same underlying principles that Contemplative Practice Yoga® therapy private sessions use.
Here are some of the underlying principles:
Each class emphasizes comfort, ease, and connecting to your calm core.
We do this in every class through gentle, simple practices – breathing, poses, and meditative relaxation techniques.
All poses are fully supported with soft blankets so that your alignments in each pose give you the most effective core release possible.
Unlike workout yoga classes or physical therapy, CPY classes and therapy sessions never push you, strain you, force you into uncomfortable positions, or exhaust you.
Each class follows a special series of pose protocols to give you the optimal release of muscle tension throughout your body.
The protocols vary, according to which areas of your body need the most attention, and what the class focus is, - for example relief of neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain. The class plans are adjusted according to appropriate poses for each season, the general needs of the students in the class, and the level of experience of the students.
Private therapy sessions differ from classes in that you address your specific needs and goals rather than the general needs of a class or a class theme.
In classes and in private therapy sessions you are encouraged to begin and maintain a home practice so that you can sustain your comfort and ease. This home practice is set for you by your teacher/therapist according to your needs and taking into account the amount of time you reasonably can give your practice each week.
You are the focus of therapeutic yoga
The purpose of therapeutic yoga is to focus on your needs, your goals for self- care, and healing. The goal is to release tension and anxiety, relieve pain or discomfort, and the cultivate calm and mental clarity.
Every class is designed for this purpose.
Private therapy sessions allow you to accomplish these goals more quickly, with attention to your specific limitations or goals.
Therapeutic yoga, Contemplative Practice Yoga®, is right for you if you wish to become more calm, centered, and contented.
It is right for you if you wish to decrease physical and mention tension, relieve physical pain and mental anxiety, and learn take that with you into all that you do.
If the question, “How comfortable can you be?” is a more interesting challenge to you than, “How hard can you push yourself?” then Contemplative Practice Yoga® is for you.