What is Restorative Yoga?
Restorative Yoga is a restful practice that encourages you to calm the nervous system and settle the mind through slow movement and passive stretching. The practice typically involves the use of props to help support the body through each posture, allowing them to be held effortlessly and encouraging total psycho-physical release.
At Yogarise London, we offer Flow + Restore classes – a balanced practice that pairs a steady-paced Vinyasa flow sequence with a grounding restorative series.
The combination of ‘flow’ (a breath-paced vinyasa sequence) and ‘restore’ (supported restorative poses) has a calming effect on the mind and body. Yoga props such a bolsters, blankets and eye pillows may be used during this class (and are provided in all our studios). This yoga style varies from teacher-to-teacher so don’t forget to read their bio when booking.At Yogarise London, Flow+Restore classes are suitable for all levels and abilities.
About Restorative Yoga
Restorative styles differ massively from the broad trend of Western Yoga insofar as they place much deeper emphasis on softening, relaxing and breathing comfortably within the practitioners’ physical limits. Restorative Yoga can be thought of as active relaxation facilitated by passive stretching; whereas more dynamic yoga styles could be thought of as passive relaxation facilitated by active stretching.
The practice hinges on taking stillness and breath to engage the parasympathetic nervous system – the part of our physiology that helps us to recover, heal, and recharge. The practice has been known to help trigger powerful meditative states, and lucid dream-states associated with conscious rest.
Meet your Teachers!
At Yogarise London, we are lucky to have some of the best Restorative Yoga teachers in London. Read on to find out more about them! Each of these teachers offers Flow+Restore classes at our studios.
Carrianne Hayden
Carrianne Hayden is a life enthusiast with a passion for movement, mental positivity and self love. Her teaching style is motivational, inquisitive and inclusive. Carrianne believes every body is a body bursting with potential and possibilities and uses a non traditional approach to yoga to help her students tap into theirs. With 500+ hours of training and 7 years of consistent teaching in varied environments under her belt, Carrianne aims to makes the student feel supported yet challenged, focussed without over thinking and above all else enough as they already are. Expect a feel good, dynamic, layered flow class building in momentum and fluidity.
Rishin Paonaskar
Rishin Paonaskar grew up in India and although yoga was taught at his school, he didn’t take it up until several years later to recuperate from a cycling injury. In 2012 he left a career in banking to start his own food business and also completed his 200 hour Yoga Alliance training. He has since trained as a myofascial body worker with senior Forrest Yoga teachers Jambo Truong and Brian Campbell, with Judith Hanson Lasater and as a yoga sports coach with the Institute of Yoga Sport Science. Rishin’s Dynamic Vinyasa Flow Yoga classes are challenging but accessible, while his Flow + Restore sessions are a chance to completely relax and reset. Come along to sweat, laugh and play in Rishin’s vinyasa, or enjoy a simple flow (to stretch and strengthen) followed by a delicious restorative sequence, designed to soothe the nervous system.
David Ramcharran
David Ramcharran’s first memory of yoga was when his father did a headstand and he clambered next to him in his diaper trying to imitate him. For many years, he practiced with his father who has never attended any studio classes and has had a steady daily self-practice to this day. In 2012, he was introduced to dharma yoga which is based on a system of classical Hatha-Raja Yoga which is a devotional practice emphasising good health, a clear mind and a kind heart.
David went on to complete his first teacher training at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, South India and then travelled to New York where he completed his 500-hour advanced teacher training in dharma yoga with the legendary Sri Dharma Mittra. The year 2015 was a defining one for David, when he left he left his job in the city to focus on teaching yoga and helping others find the amazing benefits of having a regular yoga practice. David has since completed several trainings in yoga, pranayama and meditation to further develop his practice and improve his knowledge of how the body works.
He is also a bodyworker and a certified advanced Thai massage therapist. David has recently completed his 800 hour dharma yoga training which encompasses very advanced yoga asana, psychic development and yoga nidra, as well as yin yoga and the elements training. David has racked up nearly 1000 hours of yoga and well-being training. He personally believes that yoga is beneficial for all, no matter how old you are and that the only limitations are the ones we set for ourselves.
Suzanne Pendlebury
Suzanne Pendlebury grew up in Manchester and, after studying fashion, moved to London to begin a career in buying. Practicing yoga for over 20 years which began as a way to escape the stresses of a busy career and sometimes life, soon became a way to actually look within and for life not to escape her. To find moments of calm and time for herself, gaining skills that she could be taken off the mat and apply to everyday life. Grateful to have practiced in studios and with great teachers who were very welcoming, wanting to create that same safe and welcoming space to all who practice with her. Learning to understand what works for you and your body, taking away the pressure we often put on ourselves, no expectations, no judgement. Always the option to adapt your practice, however, feels right, challenging if that feels good or easing off, finding the balance that works for you. And hopefully, have some fun along the way.
Suzanne teaches in Streatham
Shimon Sakakibara
Shimon Sakakibara is certified in the Jivamukti method, having recently completed his 300 hour training with Emma Henry and Camilla Veen in Costa Rica. With a fine art and architecture background, Shimon incorporates all his skills in teaching, allowing for great creativity in his classes. Shimon values friendly and safe space – all are welcome in his classes. Jivamukti Yoga combines ethical and spiritual ideas with a strong, dynamic physical practice, that will allow you to integrate the teachings in class with life off the mat. Shimon’s classes take on a monthly theme, with flowing, vinyasa-based sequences, traditional chanting, reflection upon the relevance of yoga scriptures to modern life and always ending with meditation or relaxation.
Shimon teaches in Peckham
Izzy Bishai
Izzy is a South London local who trained as a teacher with Yogarise. Growing up surrounded by creative communities and a less-able-bodied caregiver they were encouraged to feel, move, and breathe in whatever way feels good. Izzy’s classes focus on creating a safe, fun and empowering space; where you’ll get variations for every energy level, emphasising the feeling of a pose rather than how it looks. Always aiming to guide students through their own moving meditation.
Izzy teaches in Streatham.
Amy Slevin
Amy Slevin is a yoga teacher with a wealth of experience in a variety of disciplines including parkour, gymnastics, dance, athletics and team sports. From her training as an osteopath she has extensive knowledge of bodies and how to get the best out of them from pain relief to fancy tricks. Her yin class takes you on a restorative journey with gentle flowing, rhythmic and repetitive movements to lull you into a supremely relaxed state, ready to send you off to bed and face the world anew the next day.
Amy teaches in Queen’s Park.
Tanja Mickwitz
Tanja Mickwitz is a soul mentor, storyteller, yoga teacher trainer and journey dance facilitator. She has nearly two decades worth of experience teaching and holding space for transformative practices. Known for her authentic voice, loving presence and speaking from the heart Tanja holds a sacred container for welcoming ourselves into wholeness. In her capacity as a mentor she weaves astrological wisdom and shadow work with intuitive guidance to offer a deep and rich container for soul growth and alignment. Tanja’s yoga classes serve as an inspiration and support for life, with asana as the playground and metaphor. She creates a nurturing space for exploration of the internal landscape and inner growth whilst challenging the physical edge with a safely led dynamic practice. Tanja is also an engaging storyteller using the wisdom of stories and symbolism to come into deeper understanding of ourselves and the universe. Tanja is the first Rasa Yoga Teacher Trainer in Europe and continues to be guided and inspired by Sianna Sherman in her studies and teaching. Tanja has also studied with Para Yoga founder Yogarupa Rod Stryker since 2005 and is initiated into the SriVidya lineage by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait of the Himalayan Institute. Tanja’s first book ‘Theming Skills for Yoga Teachers’ is is available as part of the Yoga Teaching Guides series for Singing Dragon. Tanja is registered E-RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance US and a Senior Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance UK.
Tanja teaches in Queen’s Park.
