Weighting: Savasana – Restorative Yoga for Anxiety
{WATCH} RESTORATIVE YOGA FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION – WEIGHTING THE BODY
Did you know that weighting poses has the capacity to be soothing for people with depression or lethargy, while for those with anxiety it can feel grounding? I first came across this during my first training with Judith Hanson Lasater in 2012. I have found weighting helpful as a tool for addressing my own anxiety.
In this video, filmed at Embody Wellness, I am using a bolster on my torso for weighting. If you have access to sandbags you can use those, but this can also practised this with the aid of blankets.
To practice this version of Savasana it is helpful to have extra support. Here I am using blankets and bolsters but this can also be practised with cushions and pillows if you do not have access to yoga bolsters. (TIP – two bed pillows wrapped up in a sturdy blanket into a sausage shape will create a similar depth to a bolster.)
Comfort is of the utmost importance, so it can be helpful to have support under the head, under the backs of the thighs or knees and under the Achilles – play around with the props you have to hand and see what works best for you.
Here I am also using an eye pillow to cover my eyes and block out the light. The gentle weight of the eye pillow is quite soothing too. You may also want to cover yourself with a blanket for extra warmth.
Aim to remain in your Savasana for 5 to 30 minutes – as long as feels comfortable.
This is one of the poses we practised in my recent Restorative Yoga for Anxiety workshop here at Embody Wellness. I will be teaching this workshop again later in 2017 with some different pose variations. If you are interested in coming along keep an eye on my ‘Events & News’ page or visit http://www.embodywellness.co.uk/works… for more details when they become available. You can also keep up to date on all my workshops and classes by subscribing to my monthly newsletter on my homepage at https://www.ucanyoga.co.uk/
NB – Always work within your own range of limits and abilities. If you have any medical concerns, speak to your doctor before practising yoga.