Restorative yoga poses are often the prescribed remedy to help alleviate stress, but how big a problem is stress really? Well, pick any person off the street and they can tell you how stressful daily life is.
Sometimes it can seem as though there is no end to the pressure.
Having to face the reality of juggling a job, a family, an education and any other pursuits can really start to wear on a person's constitution.
It is a well documented fact that stress can be at the root of a number of conditions including headaches, backaches, muscle tension, high blood pressure and stomach ulcers.
In extreme cases it may even contribute to such things as heart attacks.
Sadly that's not all.
Just think about a point in your life when you felt stressed and overwhelmed.
Do you remember the associated depression? Do you remember the feeling of not wanting to get out of bed in the morning? Do you recollect not feeling able to face the day? The strain of dealing with what life throws at you can be debilitating on both the body and the mind, and the mind cannot find the will to continue the struggle the body will be quick to follow.
That's why the practice of restorative yoga poses is becoming so essential.
Restorative yoga poses work in two ways to alleviate stress: by working on the physical body as well as soothing the mind.
Let's take the body first.
Remember that some of the effects of stress can include ailments such as muscular tension and stomach disorders.
Restorative yoga poses, as with all yoga postures, serve to stretch and strengthen the joints and muscles.
This can relieve a lot of the tension in the body.
In addition, some of the positions aid in massaging the internal organs.
This increases the blood supply to said organs and helps with proper functioning.
And let's not forget about the benefits of improved circulation itself.
This can give your immune system a big boost so you don't come down with a cold every time you have a tight deadline at work.
Some may say that this is putting the proverbial cart before the horse and that stress really needs to be tackled on a mental and emotional level.
It is very true that anxiety and nervousness are side effects of stress, and this can in turn manifest itself as physical ailments.
Not only that but the strain of daily life can easily make a person irritable, depressed and fatigued.
Restorative yoga poses work to aid in relaxation and help to focus the mind away from the things that have you feeling overwhelmed.
Everyone needs a break now and then, and your mind is no different.
How can you expect to remain calm if you're constantly thinking about all the things that you have to do? While the basis of most types of yoga is the overall well being of the student, there is a particular form of yoga known as Restorative yoga.
This is considered to be a contemporary derivative of Hatha Yoga and focuses more on restorative yoga postures than any of the other forms.
If you're looking for a vigorous workout then these classes will not be for you.
They tend to be carried out at a bit of a slower pace, allowing the student sufficient time to move from pose to pose and to fully relax into each one.
Meditation often plays a very large part in the yoga routine.
Students typically report that they feel much calmer and better able to handle any situation which may arise.
So if you're feeling stressed already, or you want to take a pre-emptive strike and learn some techniques to help you deal with stress more effectively, you should give very strong consideration to taking up restorative yoga poses.
Your mind and your body will thank you.