Slow Yoga

Slow Yoga for Resilience

MK YOU now offers Subtle Yoga® and Restorative Yoga

What is Subtle Yoga? ®

Subtle® Yoga is a sustainable yoga practice that adapts to varying needs depending on your health, lifestyle, age and energy. It’s therapeutic and balancing with postures that are accessible, adaptable, and help:

•  Improve circulation, flexibility, and mobility
•  Establish better body mechanics to prevent injuries
•  Correct maladaptive or dysfunctional movement patterns that cause discomfort or pain
•  Release emotionally-charged patterns lodged in the body
•  Balance your physical, mental, and emotional energy levels to improve overall health

Subtle® Yoga calms the nervous system, improves breathing, increases the body-mind connection, and is trauma-informed. Subtle® Yoga incorporates six key processes:

1. mindful movement,
2. breathing practices,
3. meditation,
4. awareness of values/ethical engagement,
5. spiritual development
6. and service.

Together these practices promote

• attention,
• mindfulness,
• body awareness,
• self-regulation,
• resiliency,
• self-actualization
• and pro-social behavior.

The goal of many types of yoga classes focus on the cardio-vascular fitness or as an exercise class, whereas Subtle Yoga ® is different. Its focus is on the “innercise” for nervous system resilience to support mental health and well-being.

SOURCE: https://subtleyoga.com/ 

What is Restorative Yoga?

Restorative yoga is a type of yoga known for its relaxing, calming and healing effect.

For Restorative yoga, the intention is to relax as far as possible into the postures, using as little physical effort as possible. The mind focuses on the breath in order to cultivate mindfulness and release tension from the body.

Restorative yoga classes tend to be relaxing and slow paced,  with a whole sequence using [only a] few … postures which are held for long periods of time. Props are also used often in order to allow the body to be in the most comfortable, supported position possible. This may include bolsters, blankets, blocks and belts. Gentle music may be played, and the practice may be combined with guided meditation.”  

• Enhances flexibility
• Deeply relaxes the body
• Stills the mind
• Improves capacity for healing and balancing
• Balances the nervous system
• Boosts the immune system
• Develops qualities of compassion and understanding toward others and self
• Enhances mood states

Source: https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/practice/why-restorative-yoga 

(Image below Cally Jane Studio)

Restorative yoga helps us face what we are avoiding about ourselves

Most of us are programmed to “do” a lot—it keeps us engaged and makes us feel productive and in control. But our habit of running around, conquering our to-do lists, and fueling ourselves with coffee and ambition can often be a way we avoid deep discomforts and unwelcome feelings in the body and mind. Restorative yoga asks us to stop engaging in all the doing and face what we really need to look at about ourselves. To learn about, befriend, and care for the whole of ourselves in a way we are not used to. This is an essential step for health and healing, for true renewal. A lot of people think relaxing is about letting go, but rather than throwing out, we are trying to make space for what’s uncomfortable and to allow more space for the full experience of who we are.

Source: https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/why-restorative-yoga-is-the-most-advanced-practice

 

Mindful Kindful YOUniversity offers custom programs intentionally designed to provide a rich experience for participants through learning and engaging in practices of trauma-informed mindfulness and movement grounded in science and backed by research to support mental and physical health and well-being in our local communities across San Luis Obispo County, including community programs, school programs, personal coaching, mini-retreats, and more.