Sunday, April 15, 2012

Restorative Action

The amazing
(Sudha Carolyn Lundeen)

Today I am going to take a restorative workshop to clear out toxins, release blocked energy, and get my chakras flowing synchronously. Spring is an excellent time to clear the system from Winter's deep sleep. Winter is a time of hibernation. Its a natural reaction to the season. The body naturally slows down to accommodate the season. The metabolism has slowed considerably and therefore elimination slows as well. It is necessary and healthy to clear out the system this time of year. If your diet does not include spices or savory, or you prefer cold foods you will find your body has a harder time breaking down intake and processes at a turtles pace in the Winter season. Early Spring can be a time when you notice constipation and general fatigue more than in the winter. This is a great time to include a few steps to clear your system from winters build up, release toxins stuck in the body and re-energize your system. Some simple techniques include adding fresh parsley at the end of your meal and drinking a tea with ginger, lemon and water. I also strongly recommended a restorative class at this time of year to help the body. Restorative yoga, help to trigger the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS is responsible for balancing the body and bringing its response system back into equilibrium.

One another note Restorative yoga is not the same as gentle yoga or Yin yoga. Restorative Yoga is a very gentle practice where postures are meant to be done fully supported by props such as blankets, bolsters, blocks and straps. Once set up in a pose, you should be able to release all the muscles in the body into a passive stretch. Poses are often held for 10 minutes each per side, and this practice should be considered safe for “all” participants. Yin targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine is not always done with props and is not recommended if you have had an injury or damage to the muscle or tissues. Gentle yoga are modified postures, with plenty of time to focus on breathing and repetition.

I was first introduced to restorative at Kipualu during my teaching training course my Sudha Carolyn Lundeen. An hour in a half class where we did no more than four poses. For lack of a better description I went into a very deep relaxation and passed out and had an extremely healing experience. It was absolutely amazing. Sudha Carolyn Lundeen is a genius. If you have the opportunity I highly recommend taking a class or studying with her.

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