It only takes a reminder to breathe,

a moment to be still, and just like that,

something in me settles, softens,

makes space for imperfection.

The harsh voice of judgment drops to a whisper

and I remember again

that life isn’t a relay race;

that we will all cross the finish line;

that waking up to life is what

we were born for.

As many times as I forget,

catch myself charging forward

without even knowing where I’m going,

that many times I can make the choice

to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk

slowly into the mystery

by Danna Faulds

In January 2018, Lizzie Lasater was traveling to Melbourne to present training on Restorative Yoga. I signed myself up within a heartbeat. We were gathering at Abbotsford convent and I traveled there early on the morning of the first day, and several other yoga teacher friends traveled with me, and with all the bolsters and blankets and props we were required to take, our car was packed to the brim. Luckily the walk from the car park into the building wasn’t far. As we wheeled our suitcases across the grounds of concrete and grass and trees, and then slowly up flights of stairs, we must have looked like we were moving in for the week. It was stinking hot summer weather and the studio had no air conditioner, but the windows were all wide open to let in a little breeze, and it was a gorgeous yoga studio that I had attended numerous times before for sessions with Anahata Giri and Aruna Giri (previously the One heart yoga studio).

I have quite a few stories from that first training I attended, and then the next Summer in December of the same year when Lizzie returned to Melbourne again for the second training; I will save those stories for another time, and just mention one moment.

I recall a moment of opening my eyes after being in a restorative yoga posture for over 20 minutes in the crowded warm room of about 30 other resting yoga practitioners. The room had no music, no noise, no movement. We were all resting, awake, supported, quiet and still. In those moments of that 20 plus minutes, each of us going within, to our inner thoughts and contemplations and selves; a collective silent sigh of resting bodies, brains, and hearts. It was a moment of clarity that remains like a photo in my mind.

When I completed those first few days learning and practicing and experiencing, restorative yoga became part of my life from then on. Restorative yoga is more than rest, it’s a cultivating of deep rest and turning within, while remaining awake.

“Embodied meditation” was how Lizzie described it, and that is what it is to me.

By the way, restorative yoga is excellent for your nervous system, to stimulate the relaxation response. AKA the parasympathetic nervous system state.

The poem I shared from Danna Faulds is one I have shared many times with my students, and now, just hearing the first few words in my mind…I am feeling the call to stop (what I’m doing), drop (onto the floor with some blankets and perhaps with legs elevated on a chair), and REST.

(Which I did prior to hitting publish on this post)

Restorative yoga is a practice of non-doing. How many things do we “do” that are actively “non-doing”?

During your day, could you possibly give yourself a moment to be still?

Several moments? I recommend at least 10 minutes and preferably 20.

And yes, that 20 minutes “just” for the one pose.

…instead of pushing, sweating, starving, striving, rushing, breaking, molding, and, shape-shifting, I advocate for “lying flat.” I argue that śavāsana, as the yogic practice of lying flat or quiet quitting, is a critical tactic of dismantling power structures, and of caring for oneself and community. So, friends, lay down. Bring the ethos of śavāsana into every pose. Or…allow the whole of practice to be śavāsana.

Erica Morton Magill, “Quiet qutting yoga“, Yogafolk

In case you need it: here’s your reminder to breathe and pause and rest.

Let go of all the “doing”. Let yourself be.

Karen

PS: Join me for group yoga sessions online (via zoom) or in-person (Lilydale, Melbourne)? Or join me for 1-on-1 private yoga sessions, which can also be online or in-person? Find more info at http://www.karenbuckland.com.au or send me an enquiry via my contact page.