Yoga students frequently think that Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are the same thing. While both have qualities of restoration for the body/psyche, they are actually vastly different practices. In this workshop, Restorative Yoga instructor, Tara Lemerise, and Yin Yoga teacher, Machelle Lee, invite you to come and experience in your body the unique and valuable elements and differences these two practices have to offer.
Yin Yoga utilizes poses practiced on the floor and held gently for 3-5 minutes each in order to modestly, within limits, stimulate ligaments and fascia through traction and compression of joint tissue to encourage tissue regeneration. Restorative Yoga is more “yin," than Yin Yoga - meaning it is even more subtle and still. While Yin Yoga’s intention is to “exercise” structural tissue within the soft skeleton of fascia and at joint intersections, Restorative Yoga’s focus is to reduce and eliminate stress on the structural body, and actually support it in rest, in order to induce a deep relaxation response for the nervous system.
In the first segment of this workshop, Machelle will guide participants through a 90 minute Yin Yoga practice designed for the support of the joints, ligaments, and fascia of the low back, spine, hips, sacrum, knees, and ankles. This meditative practice will prepare one to sink deeper into the deep rest of Restorative Yoga.
After a break, students will return to a unique circuit of stations prepared by Tara with all of the necessary blankets, bolsters, and blocks skillfully arranged for relaxation. Instead of asking the body and mind to do more, this practice will soothe the nervous system, quiet the mind, and help release deeply held tension in a completely passive way.
The combination Yin and Restorative Yoga will move progressively into a profoundly relaxing afternoon and provide the perfect opportunity for one to get the nourishing rest and reset to move out into the rest of the weekend feeling revitalized and refreshed.
Practice Schedule:
2:00-2:15 Personal Introductions and Overview of Practices
2:15-3:45 Yin Yoga Practice with Machelle Lee
3:45-4:30 Break (integrate, walk downtown Brunswick/Towpath, grab a snack)
4:30-6:00pm Restorative Practice with Tara Lemerise
Cost: $55
Follow these links to learn more about Tara Lemerise and Machelle Lee.