Napping Yoga

So when I worked at the Family Life Center (a church gym) on Tuesdays, I watched the women come out of the Restorative Yoga class and I would think, "wow they look relaxed and happy.'   I talked to the instructors, 2 physical therapist and I would think, "wow they sure are nice." And then I would think, "wow I sure wish I could take that class."  But the class was on the night I worked at the gym.  Then when I didn't work at the gym anymore, I got off from my afternoon job too late to attend the class.  This spring someone talked about the class saying how life changing it was - the weekly stretch and time of mental unwinding.  And once again, I was like "I wish I could take that class."  So what joy to discover that they now offered the class at a later time.  But on inquiry I learned the class was full.  Aww Man! Then to my delight, I receive a call a couple of weeks ago saying that there was an opening.  Yay! So last Tuesday I began attending a weekly Restorative Yoga class.  

 

Restorative Yoga  is not your typical yoga class.  I thought it was funny when the instructor said it was nicknamed Napping Yoga.  I didn't get it until I began attending.  So far I have found most of the class takes place while either lying on our backs or in some stretched out forward pose. And sometime the length of a held pose really dose afford one to take a cat nap. I did find my first class to be somewhat challenging.  I was reminded of how uncoordinated I am.  I know that I breath all the time while doing other things but somehow I often find it almost beyond my capacity to coordinate intentional deep breathing with forming the yoga poses as simple as they may be.  I started to have flash backs of 9th grade jump roping or college clogging class where I just couldn't make it all happen at the same time.  Then I would think about that AFLAC commercial where the duck is in the yoga class.  Or I would imagine my friend Helen's comments if she was in class with me and I would start to giggle.  Here we are with this light airy music in the background, lights dim, everyone in their zone and I am struggling not to laugh out loud. 

 

I am a more seasoned member now having two classes under my belt.  My breathing is a little more "yogafied." and I am less giggly.  It really is a great hour of stretching and "being."  I still have to really work on relaxing my mind and thoughts.  They still like to go Spin Class pace.  Yet I am determined to use this hour not only to improve physical health through stretching but also emotional and mental health by relaxing, releasing and being.  And well if I still giggle a little during class, they say laughter is good for one's body, soul and mind.