DISCONTINUED
Health
Relax and Renew
Restful Yoga for Stressful Times
by Judith Lasater
"I will let my body flow like water over the gentle cushions," begins Relax and Renew, a quote from the ancient Greek poetess. It's an apt beginning for this primer on restorative poses, itself a celebration of the renewing power of yoga.
This is easily the most in-depth and approachable book on restorative practice I've ever seen. Everything you need is covered: assembling props, centering breath and finding time. It includes a detailed chart of props and their alternatives. Don't have your bolster or strap at hand? Just grab a couch cushion and a belt. Lasater has prescriptive practices for lower back pain, headache, insomnia and even jet lag, in addition to a general practice for relaxation. An entire section covers restorative postures for women's health - the monthly cycle, pregnancy and menopause.
Lasater is sensitive to the hectic pace of modern life, and she offers not only the poses themselves, but sequences tailored to your available time - everything from five minutes to seventy-five. Feel like you don't have time to slow down? Lasater insists that even five minutes of restorative practice is beneficial. She devotes an entire chapter to "Poses for Times When There's No Time," including "The Totally Invisible Relaxation" for instant relaxation no matter what you're doing.
For Lasater, restorative yoga is the antidote to our hectic lifestyle and stress-induced illnesses. In her final section, "Living Our Yoga," she explores relaxation and renewal off the mat: spinal alignment, proper ways to sit in a chair, breathing techniques and mindfulness. She shows us that even in the smallest moments, we can remember to savor life and embrace the stillness within.
Lasater began suffering from painful arthritis when she was in her twenties, and she tried yoga hoping for some pain relief. 10 months later, she was teaching 20 classes per week and hasn't slowed down since. Her arthritis completely disappeared and she went on to complete a degree in Physical Therapy and obtain a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology. She helped found the California Yoga Teachers’ Association, Yoga Journal magazine and the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. She lives in California and is the mother of three grown children. |
