I have a confession to make: when I first started practicing asana about 15 years ago, I was all about movement, challenging poses, and pushing my physical limits. Over time, my understanding of yoga has changed, and I’ve developed a much deeper appreciation for rest and the role it plays in our practice. In this episode, I’m sharing a little of that journey as we explore what restorative yoga really is, where it comes from, and why it’s so much more than a gentler version of an active practice. We’ll look at its roots in the Iyengar tradition and how restorative yoga can help us shift from constant activation toward deep rest.
I also break down the five qualities that make a pose truly restorative: support, stillness, warmth, silence, and darkness. We’ll explore how each quality helps the body and nervous system settle, from creating intelligent support with props to embracing Mauna (silence) and sensory withdrawal. Finally, we’ll look at the deeper goal of restorative yoga, why unsupported Shavasana is a destination rather than a starting point, and how the experience of deep rest can change the way we move through our lives.