What is Restorative yoga?

Restorative yoga is the practice of:

• being comfortable in passive poses 
• using props to support and stabilize the body
• in order to promote relaxation and tension release.

Most people are familiar with Hatha yoga. Generally speaking, if you walk into any yoga studio, you will experience a Hatha class which includes a combination of seated and standing poses. It is an umbrella term for all physical yoga, such as vinyasa and power yoga. Hatha is meant to increase energy through active, physical poses. The poses are athletic and utilize muscle strength. Hatha students are encouraged to become comfortable with discomfort and push past mental limits. Many people equate Hatha yoga with “exercising.”

Yin yoga is the practice of going deep into passive poses and staying for several minutes to access joints, connective tissues, and bones rather than muscles. This promotes healing, mobility, and suppleness in the joints, fascia, and connective tissue. Yin yoga is thought to help the flow of energy through the body. Yin classes can be challenging because of the intensity of poses and the length of time you stay in them. Many people equate Yin yoga with “stretching.”

The goal of Restorative yoga is to experience relaxation and restoration. This means that there is very little effort of any kind during a practice. Instead, your goal is to access tranquility and peace through passive, nurturing postures. Restorative yoga uses many props, including bolsters, blankets, and eye pillows, to fully support and comfort your body. Many people equate Restorative yoga with “relaxing.”

Though Restorative and Yin yoga are similar in that passive poses are held for long periods, they have fundamentally different purposes. The main difference is that in a Restorative Yoga class the purpose is to be 100% comfortable, relaxed, and at ease. A Yin yoga class can be intense and discomfort is welcome. Both Restorative and Yin yoga cultivate stillness, meditation, and deep awareness, but they access these states in different but equally beneficial ways.

See: https://callunayoga.blogspot.com/2020/04/i-practice-yoga-why-should-i-read-about.html