3 Restorative Yoga Poses for Renewal

Spring is a season of renewal – dormant plants come back to life, the days grow longer, and we as humans begin to emerge from our more restful, hunkered down winter states. 

Practicing yoga in a way that’s aligned with this season means leaning toward poses that create a feeling of renewal, whether in the physical body or in the mind. If you’re looking to incorporate poses with that goal in mind, consider weaving these three asanas into your practice:

Reclined Butterfly Pose

Reclined butterfly is a pose you’ll often experience in guided yoga practices, but it’s one that can be safely done in the comfort of your home. A hip opener that can be adjusted to suit your individual anatomy, you approach reclined butterfly by first laying on your back. Bring the soles of your feet together to touch and allow your knees to open out in opposite directions. Yoga blocks are a helpful support beneath your outer thighs. If you don’t have blocks available, you can make the stretch less intense by sliding your feet closer to the front edge of your mat. For significant release in the inner thighs, hold for at least three minutes.

Bridge Pose

Using a block beneath your sacrum for a lengthy hold is the best way to make bridge pose restorative, but holding bridge for five to ten breaths offers great benefit as well. A backbend that gently stretches the spine and opens the heart, bridge is executed from a supine position. Start with your knees bent and feet hips-width apart with your arms resting by your sides, palms face down. Use an inhalation to lift your hips toward the ceiling, and breathe as you hold. If you have a block available, slide it under your sacrum and allow your back to settle on it for support. 

Legs Up the Wall

The ultimate restorative pose, legs up the wall can literally be done against the wall (or your headboard, if you’re using this pose to help you wind down and sleep!). Lay on your back near a wall and rest your legs against it in an L-shape relative to your torso. This pose is an inversion and encourages our blood to flow in the opposite direction it does when we’re standing – especially lovely if you spend a lot of time on your feet during the day.  (As an alternative, combine legs up the wall with reclined butterfly.)

Enhance Your Restorative Practice With Props

Yoga props like blocks are useful tools for your practice – not only during movement-based flow classes, but especially for restorative sessions where your body would benefit from support while holding poses for longer periods of a time. Our online store has all the tools you need to support your practice, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner.