Restorative, yin, and gentle yoga are some of the most effective and underutilized tools for stress reduction and health promotion available. They are powerful medicine for stress relief and healing. I recorded this episode is in honor of all the times I hear how restorative and yin yoga were first enjoyed at my Sagrada Nourish & Transform Retreat. Afterwards these types of yoga become regular practices for many who join me. These kinds of yoga are powerful medicine designed to cultivate nervous system relaxation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and decrease stress. Restorative yoga is conscious rest and one of the most productive activities you can do for your peace, health, and healing.  “Healing is a matter of time but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity” - Hippocrates No matter where you are in life, slow, gentle, restorative yoga can help you have less pain, less stress, and be healthier and feel happier. “To understand what really ails you have to be quiet and listen.” This is the why of "slow" yoga. The yoga I usually teach I call Mindful Yoga. It is a blend of yin and hatha with mindfulness, coaching, and mindset work intentionally infused throughout.  My usual classes are designed to be accessible to different levels, body types, and even to those healing, and/or not at their best. People who have had a hard time with yoga in the past tell me my yoga is the first yoga they have enjoyed and felt safe in.  Yoga is a philosophy, a way of living, and a way of working with and caring for the body that you have with kindness. The intention is to learn to live with the body you have. To use it optimally, befriend it, and treat it well. As a society we spend so much time in sympathetic overdrive, gentle, restorative practices are essential for health and stress management. They are "prop heavy" to hold your body while you rest. Props are not crutches- they are part of the experience. They allow you to rest comfortably and relax into the pose. This is but of the one reasons why slow restorative yoga is better in person. Retreats are the best way to learn how to practice it in a way that feels good to you. Almost everyone who joins me goes home with a love of the restorative and yin practice.  I personally can't recommend adding this type of yoga to your practice/life enough. Restorative yoga is a completely different experience than most other styles of yoga. Postures are held almost effortlessly for long periods.  The only work that's required on your part during a restorative yoga practice is to pay attention to your breath and become aware of any sensations or thoughts that may arise. It is great pre-sleep practice and at Sagrada retreats it is affectionately known as Pajama yoga.   Do you want to learn to relax more? Do you want to be less stressed? Do you want to sleep better? Do you want to hurt less? Do you want to strengthen the connective tissues around your bones and joints? Do you want to learn to breathe strategically? Try restorative yoga.   “Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. If you get the inside right the outside will fall into place.” - Eckhart Tolle "Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured." - BKS Iyengar What you practice grows. My wish for you is to practice stress reduction, relaxation, and restorative rest. If you are a woman physician I encourage you to join me for a retreat to learn how to practice these techniques in person.  The experience of learning them in person makes them even more delicious and effective and you will learn ways to make them simple and personalized. www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreat-nourish-and-transform Today’s mindful moment is a brief virtual sound healing session. Sound healing is something that is also much better in person.  If you wish to join me for mindful yoga on zoom, you can sign up here. It’s free. www.jessiemahoneymd.com/yoga You can also practice yoga with me on