Elise Ratliff
Elise Ratliff
It always feels good to take a breath after the long, hot summer and welcome the upcoming cooler months! Restorative Yoga in the fall focuses on slowing down, grounding, and supporting digestion through longer-held, supported poses with props such as bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps. Do Restorative Yoga to bring balancing Yin energy (calm) to your life during the season that tends to create more Yang energy (busy). The practice encourages deep relaxation and prepares the body and mind for the hectic months ahead.
Classic fall poses include:
• Legs Up the Wall for grounding
• Supported Bridge for digestion
• Supine Spinal Twist for release
• Happy Baby for letting go
• Child’s Pose for comfort
Key Elements of Fall Restorative Yoga:
• Props: Use blankets, bolsters, blocks, straps, and an eye pillow to fully support the body in each pose.
• Long Holds: Hold the poses for two to five minutes to allow the body to relax deeply and connect with the Yang energy of autumn in Arizona (you can hold longer if doing at home; class presents a limited time frame).
• Grounding: Focus on poses that connect you to the earth, such as Legs Up the Wall, to help you feel more stable and balanced.
• Digestion Support: Include gentle spinal twists and Happy Baby pose to support the large intestine and promote more efficient digestion (think of all of the upcoming holiday foods!).
• Warmth: Cover your body with blankets to stay warm and secure during your practice. Putting something with a little weight across your hips and belly when lying on your back can support the feeling of being grounded. Bring a bag of dry beans or rice from home to use in class!
This is an ideal practice for anyone dealing with stress, burnout, fatigue, injury, or simply looking to unwind deeply. Class is done on the floor and is suitable for all fitness levels and can be a powerful addition to your self-care routine. Feel free to bring your yoga mat and anything from home that might serve as a prop for this class (blankets, cushions, towels, eye cover, etc.).
Please join Elise for class at the Sun Lakes Cottonwood Palo Verde Fitness Center. Classes are Monday and Friday at 10 a.m. The cost is $5 per class or prepay $20 to get five classes.
Hope to see you there!
~Namaste~