Winter Evening Yoga (Encore)

The narrator shares personal insights into the struggle of finding motivation for self-care during the demanding winter evenings and the importance of making time for restorative practices.

The narrator struggles to get out of the house and engage in self-care activities during the darker winter evenings.

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, the narrator admits finding it more difficult to leave the comfort of home after dusk sets in. There's a temptation to retreat immediately into pajamas and bed after dinner, an allure that is hard to resist. But despite this, she finds strength in a simple affirmation, a note left on the bathroom mirror from her past self: "I'm so glad I went. Don't hesitate."

This reminder of the post-yoga feeling of tranquility pushes her to swap her pajamas for yoga clothes. While it's easy to forget the benefits when disengaged from the moment, the narrator recalls the relaxation felt in her neck and shoulders from past sessions, which reinforces her decision to attend the class.

The narrator acknowledges that while she often retreats into her pajamas and bed immediately after getting home, there are certain activities that can motivate her to venture back out into the world, such as the restorative yoga class.

The narrator explains that even though the pull to curl up at home is strong, there are activities that possess the power to entice her outside again, such as the restorative yoga class. These experiences, valuable enough to lure her from the sanctuary of her bed, are like beacons in her routine. To maintain the motivation to attend, she does not force herself, but rather relies on timely nudges from her past self — "little missives" that remind her of the positive outcomes.

The narrator recognizes t ...

The narrator shares her transformative experience with restorative yoga, describing how it resets her nervous system and promotes ease and fluidity in her body.

The narrator describes how the restorative yoga practice helps reset her nervous system and promotes a deeper sense of ease and fluidity in her body.

Initially skeptical, the narrator discovers the immense benefits restorative yoga has on her well-being. She realizes that she had been missing out on the deep reset that comes with intentional rest. The practice communicates to the nervous system that all is well, which assists in conserving energy for restoration. Postures, breath, and the environment work collectively to convey this message, aiding in dissolving feelings of urgency and alertness that are not helpful. After her sessions, she feels her body moving with more fluidity and grace.

The narrator acknowledges that while she was initially skeptical of the benefits of restorative yoga, she has come to realize the profound impact it has had on her overall well-being.

The sessions in the yoga studio are deemed restorative, suggesting an environment that encourages relaxation and rejuvenation. Throughout her practice, the narrator experiences a profound sense of tranquility that often leads her to drift into a meditative, sleep-like state, distinct from her typical nightly rest.

The narrator experiences a profound sense of rela ...

The narrator shares her personal strategy of using handwritten reminders and consistent rituals as methods to encourage herself to prioritize self-care through yoga practice.

The narrator leaves herself handwritten notes as a way to reconnect with the positive effects of the yoga practice and remind herself to prioritize self-care.

After recognizing the profound sense of calm and well-being she experiences from attending a restorative yoga class, the narrator employs a technique to overcome moments of doubt or hesitation. She writes affirmative notes such as "I'm so glad I went" and places them on her bathroom mirror. These notes from her past self serve to remind her of the relaxation and gratitude she feels after the class, which motivates her to attend again. She reflects on how these little missives sent from 'past me to present me' play a crucial role in sliding back into a commitment to self-care.

The narrator's rituals, such as carrying the note with her and sticking it to her steering wheel, serve as a way to reinforce the importance of the self-care practice and keep herself motivated to follow through.

To further her dedication, the narrator incorporates rituals into her preparation for the yoga class. She ...

The environment of a yoga studio is meticulously designed to aid in relaxation and mindfulness. The narrator provides a rich description of the sensory elements that contribute to this tranquil atmosphere, highlighting how each detail plays a vital role in cultivating a space conducive to relaxation and introspection.

Sensory Elements Enhancing Calmness

The narrator becomes acutely aware of the sensory experiences that greet her upon entering the studio, a testament to how yoga practice can sharpen the senses and heighten awareness.

Enhanced Sensory Awareness

"I think yoga made my senses sharper, and I found that every part of entering the studio struck a chord," the narrator explains. From the "faint maple scent of the old wood floors" to the "very quiet, ambient music playing from the speakers," the narrator becomes profoundly attuned to her surroundings. The air in the studio is described as "warm and soothing," offering a comforting embrace as she sheds her coat. Half the appeal, she notes, is the anticipation of stepping into a room that promises warmth and silence—a stark contrast to the noise and demands of daily life. This space, requiring nothing from her, offering "few words and a lot of comfort and relaxation," sounds like precisely what she needs.

The Quiet Sanctuary of the Studio

The studio's serene environment is further reinforced by a strict policy that encourages introspection and peace.

Importance of Silence

"This studio had a strict no-talking-in-the-yoga- ...

In the immersive tranquility of yoga practice, I find myself drifting into a form of rest deeper than sleep, guided there by the soothing environment and the nurturing presence of my teacher.

The narrator describes how the supported, restorative postures and the guidance of the teacher facilitate a deep state of relaxation, often resulting in brief periods of sleep or trance-like awareness.

As I lay back in the dim orange glow of the studio, a bolster beneath my knees, I can feel every part of my body surrendering to the peace offered by the restorative postures. My breath becomes a tool for calming my nervous system, whispering to every cell that any perceived danger has passed and now is the time for deep rest. The energy that was once reserved for fight or flight can now flow toward healing and rejuvenation.

The postures we create in class, likened to a "little pillow fort," support our limbs and facilitate an ease that I seldom experience elsewhere. In this sacred space, the need for rest often overtakes me and I succumb to a gentle slumber, distinct from the sleep I find in my own bed.

The narrator emphasizes that this type of sleep or trance-like state is different from her typical sleep at home, as it is characterized by a lack of dreaming or conscious awareness, but a deep sense of restoration and rejuvenation.

This sleep that visits me in the yoga studio differs significantly from my nightly rest; it's devoid of dreams or active thoughts. Rather, it is punctuated by moments of vague awareness - brief check-ins where I realize I have been "somewhere," without any recollection of the journey. In these instances, I bask in the aftermath of solace, feeling more restored than I can recall ever feeling in my everyday life.

The narrator's teacher reinforces the idea that falling asleep during the practice is a sign that the body and mind needed that level of rest and restoration, and that it is a testament to the effectiveness of the practice in creating a safe, nurturing environment.

The narrator's experience of being tenderly covered with a blanket by the teacher evokes a sense of comfort and care, further enhancing the deeply restorative and soothing nature of t ...