Teaching Restorative Yoga classes is unique and challenges your mind. As a yoga instructor, you need to be comfortable teaching a wide range of classes. Not all students come to yoga with the same goals in mind. While some might be intent on engaging their muscles or increasing their flexibility, others are hoping to reduce pain and increase their overall well-being. Students who fall into this last category are perfect candidates for restorative yoga. In order to meet their needs, you should know how to successfully plan and lead a restorative yoga class.
Restorative yoga is a type of yoga practice that calls for the consistent holding of a few relaxing poses. Rather than switching quickly from one strenuous pose to the next, practitioners will often hold a single pose for 5-20 minutes. This means you’ll only use a handful of poses during a typical session. Props are often utilized to assist practitioners in their longer, gentler poses.
Restorative yoga is often targeted to address a single issue. Certain poses are used to alleviate headaches, while others reduce the physical and emotional effects of fatigue. A good teacher adjusts their plans in accordance with the specific needs of their students.
Benefits of Restorative Yoga
Restorative yoga has a number of physical and mental advantages for the practitioner. The deep breathing practiced during the lengthy poses is ideal for relaxation, a benefit that brings about a number of wonderful secondary effects. Practitioners often report healthier sleep patterns, a more pleasant mood, and a general improvement in overall well-being. Restorative yoga is also gentler on the body than other types of yoga, making it ideal for people hoping to reduce physical pain.
Keys to Teaching Restorative Yoga
Preparing and executing a restorative yoga class requires a particular mindset. Although, your lesson plan is short, your class runs at a slow pace and there are many therapeutic details. Here’s what you need to consider when you are teaching restorative yoga classes.
Always Prioritize SafetySafety comes first for any yoga teacher. You need to make sure nothing in your class could ever put your students in harm’s way. Some people might be attending the class to overcome physical or emotional difficulties, which means they’re particularly vulnerable. Be on the lookout for neck injuries, and avoid assigning inverted poses for students who are menstruating or suffering from a heart condition. You should also advise your students to get permission from a doctor before practicing yoga, especially if they are recovering from an injury. Nobody should ever do yoga against the advice of their physician.
Be Prepared for Emotional ReleaseDuring a restorative yoga class, students are bound to undergo significant muscular and stress release. This is inevitable due to the relaxing nature of the practice. Sometimes, this could bring about a subsequent emotional release for your students. Don’t let sudden tears or outbursts catch you by surprise. A professional teacher should meet these emotions with tranquility and compassion.
Designing the Perfect ClassAs with any yoga course, designing the perfect restorative sequence is essential to success. With your students’ goals in mind, you should be able to craft engaging and therapeutic classes. Here are some basic tips to consider.
Use Plenty of PropsRestorative yoga is known for its frequent use of props. Since restorative yoga is meant to be more relaxing and less intensive, it’s important that students never feel too much of a strain. Props are useful for guiding students into the most favorable body positions. As a teacher, you need to make sure props are placed in the correct position before the students begin a particular pose. The probs will set boundaries for the students, who will trust you to ensure those boundaries are where they’re supposed to be. Blocks, bankets, and bolsters are typical props you should have on hand. Everyday objects like chairs, tables, and even towels can also be useful.
Keep Things Slower PacedBy definition, restorative yoga is slower-paced than most yoga styles. Practitioners are meant to enjoy the full mental and physical benefits that come from holding a sustained pose. You need to keep this slower pacing in mind as you prepare your classes. Never try to jam too many poses into a single session. In restorative yoga, quality is always much more important than quantity.
Start the Class with Purposeful RelaxationThe first few minutes of every class should be based on relaxation. The subsequent poses will only prove restorative if the students are properly free of tension. For an hour-long class,try to dedicate the first 10-15 minutes to eliminating stress and setting the mood. This might seem excessive, but there can be no overestimating the importance of relaxation.
Leave Time for an Extended Savasana at the EndWhile guided relaxation, which occurs during savasana, is important with any type of yoga, it’s especially vital during restorative sessions. Inspiring students to “let go” is a crucial component of restorative practice, and savasana is where this spiritual and emotional release is most likely to occur. Never make the mistake of cutting savasana short in the interest of squeezing in some additional poses. These final moments of relaxation are always worth the time.
Typical Restorative Yoga Poses
There are a number of simple poses that could represent the core of teaching restorative yoga classes. Here are a few you should consider.
Reclined Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana)With the right supports, this pose can be wonderfully relaxing for practitioners. Make sure you have your students place rolled blankets between their knees in order to support their bodies. Additional supports behind the neck can make it even easier to relax.
Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)With a yoga block under the back, this pose is as useful as it is relaxing. It can help students overcome back pain and strengthen the abdominal muscles. Just make sure everyone takes care when coming out of the pose, as it requires a little getting used to.
Supported Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)This is a fun, relaxing pose that your beginner students are sure to enjoy. It’s known for increasing blood flow in the body and resting the feet. Make sure your students have a yoga mat beneath them before they begin. They should also use rolled blankets to help support their backs, thereby ensuring the position is comfortable for the duration of the pose.
Make a Difference – Teach Restorative Yoga
Successfully teaching restorative yoga classes is all about understanding the nature of the practice, planning excellent classes, and doing everything you can to assist your students during the sessions. Having absorbed the information outlined above, you should have no problem inspiring your students. By serving as an excellent teacher, you will play a big part in helping countless students improve their physical and emotional well-being.
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
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