Health & Wellness, Sports & Fitness

Be Well Fondy Series — Recharge and Restore: The Power of Deep Relaxation with Restorative Yoga

“Be Well Fondy”

By Kelley Kennon

We have that in Fondy?! A question filled with excitement and surprise that I’ve been getting while talking with community members at our local Farmer’s Market and expos. Yes, we have that!

My name is Kelley Kennon and I’m a reiki practitioner and meditation coach here in Fond du lac with my downtown business, The Reiki Room. Reiki is a Japanese method that creates deep relaxation and also promotes healing. What was once considered new age and fringe has very much made it to the mainstream of our society and into the interests and usage of the medical and scientific communities. I’m here with my series, “Be well Fondy”, to shine a light on all things self care, wellness and healing in Fond du lac. Yes, we have more than you know. You don’t have to book a retreat to Sedona, AZ or find a shaman deep in the amazon; there are teachers, and healers within your community ready to serve you. But how much do you actually know about these wellness techniques? How can they deeply benefit you and improve your life?

It will be my mission to highlight their importance and bring to you the local opportunities to experience them.

This month’s feature: The Power of Deep Relaxation with Restorative Yoga

Regular Relaxation v. Deep relaxation

In a world that glorifies exhaustion it can be incredibly difficult to give yourself permission to rest. And then what is rest? Is it laying in bed scrolling on your phone? Is it finally just being able to sit down and enjoy a snack? Is it taking an afternoon to go fishing? While these things seem more restful in comparison to other go-go activities, true rest is quite different. Deep relaxation is a state you can achieve that brings forth your body’s natural ability to heal itself. It is a state of profound mental, emotional, and physical calmness where the body and mind are free from tension and stress. Deep relaxation is a conscious practice designed to calm the nervous system, enhance well-being, and restore energy.

Benefits of Deep Relaxation

Stress Reduction: Deep relaxation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to lower cortisol levels and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Improved sleep: Regular relaxation practices promote better sleep quality by calming the mind and preparing the body for rest.
Enhanced Mental Clarity: Can improve focus, memory, and decision-making by giving the brain a chance to rest.
Lower Blood Pressure: Relaxation techniques help reduce blood pressure by decreasing heart rate and promoting vascular relaxation.
Pain Management: It can help alleviate chronic pain by releasing muscle tension and reducing the perception of pain.
Emotion Well-being: Promotes a sense of calm and balance, which can improve mood and increase resilience to life’s challenges.
Improved immune function: Relaxation reduces stress-related suppression of the immune system, helping the body to fight off illness more effectively.

Restorative yoga as a deep relaxation technique

While there are many methods to achieve deep relaxation this month’s focus is on restorative yoga. Restorative yoga is a gentle, slow-paced style of yoga that focuses on relaxation and stress relief. It typically involves holding poses for an extended period (usually 5 – 10 minutes) while using props like bolsters, blankets and blocks to support the body. This allows you to fully relax without exerting the effort or strain. The emphasis is on stillness, deep breathing and mindfulness.

Benefits of restorative yoga

A restorative yoga practice can give you all the benefits of deep relaxation that are listed above plus the following.

Aids in recovery– ideal for individuals recovering from illness, injury, and surgery as it is low-impact and gentle on the body.
Balances the nervous system– helps regulate the stress hormone cortisol, reducing chronic stress symptoms.
Relieves chronic pain- helps manage pain from conditions like arthritis, migraines, or fibromyalgia by reducing muscle tension and improving posture.
Supports emotional healing– encourages the release of stored tension and emotions, fostering a sense of emotional balance.
Improves flexibility– gradual stretching in supported poses enhances joint mobility and muscle flexibility without risk of injury.

Relaxation is a practice

As a reiki practitioner I help facilitate deep relaxation for others. I can tell you that it is definitely a practice. In other words, there may be an expectation that deep relaxation can be achieved on your first attempt. While sometimes this is true, very often because of the nature of our lives we are constantly stuck in chronic stress aka fight or flight mode. This makes settling our nervous system down rather difficult. It takes practice. Having a stillness practice like restorative yoga can help condition your body and mind to achieve deep relaxation more often and in more times of need. Choosing a guided relaxation technique can offer extra help in these ways:

A calming and safe environment is created.
Soothing music or sound can be incorporated.
Props for physical comfort can be provided
There is support and guidance from the facilitator.

Do we have this in Fondy?!

Yes! Check out these studios and local Yoga instructors for restorative yoga classes.

The Twisted Warrior Yoga Studio | 15 North Main St. 3rd Floor https://thetwistedwarrior.com/classes-descriptions

Triple Moon Healing | 485 S Military Rd Suite 8 https://triple-moon-healing.com/yoga-classes/

Onyx Yoga | 39 W Scott Street https://www.onyxyoga3.com/classes

Moon in Scorpio https://www.mooninscorpioyoga.com/home

Renee Waters | 747 Crestview Ln https://countrydoctordetox.com/

Here’s another opportunity this month. Experience deep relaxation and healing in this restorative yoga class, enhanced with the soothing power of reiki, reflexology and sound therapy.

Book online thru Twisted Warrior Yoga Studio’s schedule bliss

https://schedulebliss.com/thetwistedwarrior