{"id":7395,"date":"2014-05-29T11:09:30","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T11:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/costarica-yoga-retreats.local\/?p=7395"},"modified":"2017-07-06T13:38:01","modified_gmt":"2017-07-06T13:38:01","slug":"restorative-yoga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/costarica-yoga-retreats.com\/?p=7395","title":{"rendered":"Completing Your Costa Rica Vacation with Restorative Yoga"},"content":{"rendered":"

A visit to Costa Rica is not complete without taking yoga classes, especially one that isintended for the restoration of your physical health. While there are many types of yoga,\u00a0restorative yoga is one that provides a wide range of benefits for people of all ages, but\u00a0more so for those who struggle with a number of chronic health issues.<\/p>\n

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What is Restorative Yoga?<\/h2>\n

This particular practice concentrates on activating the parasympathetic nervous system,
\nin order to bring physical, emotional, and mental relaxation. It essentially reboots the
\nbody to its “factory settings” before copious amounts of toxins and high levels of stress
\nwreaked havoc in your system.<\/p>\n

BKS Iyengar, who is touted as one of the greatest yoga masters that ever lived, is widely
\ncredited for creating this type of restorative practice. This master is known for instructing
\nhis students to use props to improve their yoga poses. Modern restorative yoga poses
\ninvolve the use of props as well.<\/p>\n

Main Benefits<\/h2>\n

Chronic Pain Relief<\/h4>\n

The Poses as well as breathing exercises you can learn in restorative yoga classes help
\nrelease serotonin and endorphins, which effectively counteracts pain. The exercises
\nwould help anyone who suffer from any kind of chronic pain as in the case of migraines,
\ncluster headaches, back, neck, and leg pain, etc.<\/p>\n

A number of studies have shown promising results as far as using restorative yoga to
\nreplace daily pain medication.
\nEffective Reduction of Cortisol<\/p>\n

Stress is an ever present risk factor that can lead to serious health issues such as heart
\nfailure, hypertension, and other cardiovascular anomalies. Restorative poses such as
\nChild’s pose, legs against the wall, and reclining bound angle help lower Cortisol levels,
\nwhich translates to less stress and allows more room for relaxation.<\/p>\n

Natural Remedy for Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders<\/h4>\n

Sleep disorders such as insomnia, parasomnia, somnambulism, and many others are caused by imbalance, which is corrected by the combination of poses and breathing exercises. With regular practice, restorative yoga poses can help reset the body’s internal clock, which determines regular sleeping pattern.<\/p>\n

While it would take a few weeks or even months of practicing restorative yoga in order to reap the full benefits, you can expect positive changes in your sleeping habits a few sessions. Beginners are usually taught to concentrate on breathing exercises as well as relaxation poses in order to achieve a sense of calm, which is necessary to reach REM stage of sleep.<\/p>\n

Increased Metabolic Rate<\/h4>\n

Yoga has been known as a natural weight loss method, but restorative poses are particularly linked to reduced fat deposits in the body due to faster metabolism. \u00a0While there has yet to be a definitive study on the effects of restorative poses to an individual’s BMI, many case studies have shown a radical reduction in body fat percentage (7% in women and 9% in men) after 3 months of continuous practice.<\/p>\n

It is very important to note that compared to most other forms of weight loss regimen, restorative yoga is a low-impact activity. \u00a0This means people of all ages can do this type of exercise since it does not require a lot of lifting, running, or other activities that can be stressful for the elderly and those who are nursing injuries.<\/p>\n

Increased Insulin Efficiency<\/h4>\n

This is strongly connected with weight loss, since the body’s response to insulin can be hampered by added lipids. \u00a0When the body becomes insulin resistant, it puts a lot of stress on the pancreas, which then creates a chain reaction that results in increased levels of glucose in the blood. \u00a0As the body loses all the extra fat, the insulin produced is utilized well, which allows for the effective regulation of blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n

People with type 2 diabetes would benefit greatly from practicing restorative yoga daily. \u00a0With constant practice, the restorative benefits of this type of yoga can negate the effects of diabetes, and avoid the complications that may arise from this degenerative disease.<\/p>\n

What to Expect<\/h2>\n

When you take a restorative yoga class in any yoga retreat center in Costa Rica, you can expect to find not only a well versed teacher but also all the props you will need for the sessions. \u00a0Among the most common props used include:<\/p>\n