In many ways, attempting to even begin to explain what the experience of Asana is like on the yoga mat is a lot like trying to explain what the experience of tasting chocolate is like.

You know that the taste of chocolate is extraordinary and so does everyone else, yet each persons senses will enjoy and appreciates different aspects of the sensation of chocolate and the same is true of your yoga practice.

However, in this article I am going to tell you about 3 of the things that I learned and appreciated while taking a Restorative Yoga class with Laura Rankel at Yoga Pura on Tuesday, May 1 2012.

Before we begin, I invite you to focus on your natural breathing rhythm while reading this because more and more you will find yourself feeling as if you’ve already taken a Restorative yoga class that allows your body and mind to relax.

Restorative Yoga Appreciation #1 - Learning how to relax into the discomfort that sometimes arises in a restorative posture also helps me learn how to relax into the discomfort that arise in all areas of my life.

Lets face it, one of the primary intentions of most restorative yoga classes and postures is to get as comfortable as possible and relax into the poses. Sometimes that is real easy to do and sometimes it isn’t.

Likewise, now and then when I am off the yoga mat and living in the physical world, I am afforded opportunities to relax and get as comfortable as possible knowing that I am supported by the Universe in all ways. Again, sometimes that is real easy to do and sometimes it isn’t.

Yet, the more often I find myself relaxing in a restorative yoga class despite the discomfort that arise in my mind the easier it becomes to relax off the yoga mat despite the discomfort that arise in my mind.

Restorative Yoga Appreciation #2 - The long holds and fully supported postures in restorative yoga allow me an opportunity to notice where I’m holding tension in my body.

And the interesting thing about noticing where I’m holding tension is that sometimes I’m able to relax into the tension and watch as it dissolves and disappears. While sometimes I notice the tension and even though I breathe into it and try to relax into it, for whatever reason it remains tense and tight.

Of course, it is in moments like these where I am given the opportunity to learn how to trust in the process and that everything is okay even noticing when tension isn’t releasing as quickly as I would like and once again relaxing with this as well.

Restorative Yoga Appreciation #3 - Even though taking a restorative yoga class might be the last thing I want to do when my mind is filled with thoughts of worry and anxiety. More often than not it is one of the most effective ways for me to calm my mind and relax the body.

In addition, when you take a Restorative yoga class with Laura Rankel you will find that she allows you to have enough time in the postures to deeply relax as well as moving you in and out of the poses in such a relaxing way that even the transitions lead you into deeper and deeper levels of relaxation as well.

And when that begins to happen, my world becomes full of Love, Joy and Peace with whatever arises as it arises.

Big Love Always,

Thaddeus