A Restorative Practice for Anxiety
We all experience moments when the mind feels unsettled. Stress, worry, or simply the demands of everyday life can leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves. At these times, restorative yoga offers something profoundly valuable—not by asking us to do more, but by providing the support needed to let unnecessary effort fall away.
In this practice, two supported restorative poses use bolsters, blankets, and optionally a chair to encourage deep physical and mental release. Careful support beneath the thighs, pelvis, and spine allows the muscles to soften while maintaining length through the spine and openness across the chest.
A key feature of both poses is the gentle lengthening of the back of the neck and softening of the throat, naturally encouraging Jalandhara Bandha. This helps quiet the senses and supports slower, more relaxed breathing.
Rather than trying to control the breath, allow the exhalation to gradually become longer and softer. As the exhalation settles, the body follows. The forehead softens, the jaw releases, the tongue relaxes, and attention moves away from mental activity toward direct experience of the breath.
Restorative yoga reminds us that calm is not something we force—it is something we create the conditions to receive.
