158. Yin, Restorative and Gentle Yoga Explained - Powerful Medicine for Stress Relief and Healing

The Mindful Healers Podcast with Dr. Jessie Mahoney and Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang

Restorative, yin, and gentle yoga are some of the most effective and underutilized tools for stress reduction and health promotion available.

They are powerful medicine for stress relief and healing.

This episode is to honor of all the times I hear how restorative and yin yoga were first enjoyed at my Sagrada Nourish & Transform Retreat.

After this retreat so many women physicians find that practicing this type of yoga regularly transforms their life.

Restorative yoga, yin yoga and gentle yoga are powerful medicine.

They are designed to cultivate nervous system relaxation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and decrease stress.

Restorative yoga is one of the most productive activities you can do for peace, health, and healing.

“Healing is a matter of time but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity” - Hippocrates

No matter where you are in life, slow, gentle, restorative yoga can help you have less pain, less stress, be healthier, and feel happier.

“To understand what really ails you you have to be quiet and listen.”

This is the why of "slow" yoga.

I usually teach "Mindful Yoga."

It is a blend of yin and hatha with mindfulness, coaching and mindset work intentionally infused throughout.

My classes are designed to be accessible to different levels, body types, and even to those healing, and/or not at their best.

People who have had a hard time with yoga in the past tell me my yoga is the first yoga they have enjoyed and "felt safe in."

Yoga is a philosophy, a way of living, and a way of working with and caring for your specific body with kindness.

Yoga helps you learn to live with the body you have. It helps you learn to use it optimally, befriend it, and treat it well.

We spend much of our lives in sympathetic overdrive. Gentle restorative practices are essential for health and stress management.

Restorative, yin and gentle yoga are "prop heavy"

The intent is to support your body fully while you rest. Props are not crutches- they are part of the experience.

They allow you to rest comfortably and relax into the pose.

This is but of the one reasons why slow restorative yoga is better in person.

Retreats are the best way to learn how to practice it in a way that feels good to you.

Almost everyone who joins me for a retreat goes home with a love of the restorative and yin.

I personally can't recommend adding some yin and restorative yoga into your oractice.

Even one pose can make a difference.

Restorative yoga is a completely different experience than most other styles of yoga.

Postures are held almost effortlessly for long periods.

The only work that's required on your part during a restorative yoga practice is to pay attention to your breath and become aware of any sensations or thoughts that may arise.

It is great pre-sleep practice and at my Sagrada Nourish and Transform retreats it is affectionately known as "Pajama yoga."

Do you want to learn to relax more?

Do you want to be less stressed?

Do you want to sleep better?

Do you want to hurt less?

Do you want to strengthen the connective tissues around your bones and joints?

Do you want to learn to breathe strategically?

Try restorative yoga.

“Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right the outside will fall into place.” - Eckhart Tolle

"Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured." - BKS Iyengar

What you practice grows. Practicing stress reduction, relaxation, and restorative rest will change your life.

If you are a woman physician I encourage you to join me for a retreat to learn how to practice these techniques in person. The experience of learning them in person makes them even more delicious and effective and you will learn ways to make them simple and personalized. www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreat-nourish-and-transform

Today’s mindful moment is a brief virtual sound healing session. Sound healing is something that is also much better in person.

If you wish to join me for mindful yoga on zoom, you can sign up here. It’s free. www.jessiemahoneymd.com/yoga

You can also practice yoga with me on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7LfxLU3jmBdiScY-_24OBg

If you want to develop a mindfulness practice or a speaker for your group, reach out to Dr. Liang www.awakenbreath.org

*Nothing in this episode should be considered medical advice.