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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Restore Yourself with Restorative Yoga

By Rosie Lazroe

Today I would like to introduce you to one of yoga’s sweet gifts to the world: the style of restorative yoga.

One can think of a restorative practice as the sweet reward for a busy life well lived. It is like a magic elixir that has the power to help lower cholesterol, boost the immune system, reduce hypertension and lower triglyceride levels. As a beautiful compliment to an active yoga practice, it has the power to relax the inner environment so deeply, that the body and mind will naturally feel refreshed throughout the most active of days.

What can you expect in a class?

Props, and lots of them!

Restorative yoga holds your body in the yoga posture, so you don’t have to. It creates the beneficial shapes that are required of a yoga pose, while having you do little to no work.

A cozy warm room

Excessive heat or cold will stimulate the brain to elevate or reduce body temperature. Comfortably warm skin will activate the parts of the brain necessary to assist your body into deep relaxation.

A quiet environment

Each teacher will offer a different sound modality as you rest. Some will play calming music or share inspirational readings, while others may keep the room absolutely silent.

An eye pillow

A dimly lit room will reduce stimulating nerve impulses, and very light pressure around the bones of the eyes will offer sensory input that relaxes the heart beat. A small, folded hand towel over the forehead and the eyes works very well if an eye pillow is not available to you.

Yoga postures that are held from 5-20 minutes

Chemical reactions occur in the body the longer you stay in a posture. While remaining for a minimum of 15 minutes begins to break down stress hormones, some teachers prefer to hold postures for 5-10 minutes.

A comfortable body

It might take a few minutes to adjust the props to feel comfortable in your body. Restorative yoga postures require no muscle contraction whatsoever. Be patient, and take your time getting settled. Give yourself time to get familiar with the sensation of resting on yoga props, and do your best to eliminate minor annoyances when setting up your pose. The goal is to be as physically comfortable as possible.

Check the local yoga directory for the studio nearest you, and ask if they offer any restorative yoga classes. Wishing you a relaxing journey.

Rosie Lazroe is a certified yoga teacher and master reiki practitioner. For more information, you can contact her at 732-596-7384, [email protected] or visit RosieLazroe.com.

Rosie’s Corner
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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