Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga focuses on holding four or five simple poses for an extended duration. This practice is designed to help practitioners sink into deep relaxation and direct blood flow to sore or injured areas without straining them.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga, which means “flow” in Sanskrit, is a movement-intensive practice with smooth transitions between poses. Vancouver-based yoga instructor and blogger Brittanie Firth suggests that “individuals experiencing stress or anxiety may benefit from a slow vinyasa class to focus the mind and find peace through movement.”
Yin Yoga
Also known as Taoist yoga, Yin Yoga is quiet, meditative, and passive. The practice involves yielding to gravity and completely relaxing the muscles. Firth recommends this practice “for the slow, relaxing calm it creates.”
Chanting for Relaxation
Research published in the International Journal of Yoga indicates that chanting the sacred syllable “om” slows down activity in the brain’s limbic system, which is associated with mood and emotions. “Chanting helps us detach from our thoughts and enter a state of tranquility,” explains Joana Peixoto, an instructor at Toronto Yoga Mamas. “The vibrations from chanting are soothing, reminiscent of the comforting environment within a mother’s womb.” For those who may feel uncomfortable chanting, humming or simply listening to the chanting of others can provide similar benefits.
