We are happy to see Karla Brodie being featured in the Sunday Star Times (18 June 2017).
In an article by writer Stephen Heard, he writes about his first experiences of Restorative Yoga and about Karla’s classes. Wonderful to see the news about Restorative Yoga spreading out into the media, bringing it to greater awareness.
Below is an extract from the article with a link to the full text and more photos on stuff.co.nz.
We try: Restorative yoga - exercise for the inactive
Good news for the inactive — restorative yoga allows you to get healthier by practically doing nothing at all. I signed up with Auckland’s Contemporary Yoga Centre to attempt the sleepiest of all the yogas.
The Basics
Restorative yoga isn’t your typical method of sun saluting. It’s part yoga, part meditation, and at times, part snoozing. Inspired by the work of B.K.S. Iyengar — the yoga maestro who trailblazed drawn-out poses and the use of props to support the body — the practice uses blankets and large sausage-shaped yoga pillows (or bolsters) to assist with poses that are held for extremely long periods of time.
Why you should try it
Restorative yoga could be the ultimate remedy for restless sleepers. Karla Brodie says that participants often comment they have the best night’s sleep after a class. “The deeply nourishing and restful approach to yoga supports easeful breathing, good digestion and a settled nervous system. The practice is a powerful antidote to high levels of stress, anxiety and fatigue both mental and physical. Through regular practice of restorative yoga we can cultivate a fitness of being present and calm.”
Risk Rating
There are more risks actually getting to the studio than encountering anything of great danger in a class of restorative yoga. Karla suggests that the only thing people should be worried about is falling asleep, “Especially if a participant is riding life with elevated levels of stress and a layer of fatigue beneath.”