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.
Eleanor Hann
Eleanor Hann is a South East London Native who trained as a teacher with Yogarise. Yoga has been a foundation throughout Eleanor’s life. Starting with formal dance training, she now works creatively as a Director and Choreographer. Yoga has been key in building a healthy and loving relationship with her mind, body and spirit, and she carries this into her classes to help others heal and grow. Eleanor’s yoga flows are influenced by her dance background. Prepare to get lost in her classes, connect to your body through Asana and breathe with curated playlists to let go and be present. Eleanor leans into her Nicherin Buddhism for inspiration.
Eleanor teaches in Streatham
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
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 Queens Park
Daryn Wober
Daryn is a Yoga Alliance (RYT 500) certified teacher who has trained (1,250+ hours) mainly in the lineage of Sri T Krishnamacharya. He started practicing Yoga in 2015 following a back injury and it soon became a part of his life. He found himself being drawn to the ancient wisdom of various yogic texts and experimenting with how this knowledge can be incorporated as part of our modern lives. In 2018 he began teaching groups and individuals and more recently trained as a yoga therapist. Daryn’s aim is to teach as traditionally as his knowledge permits in order to bring to light the many aspects of Yoga (beyond postures) to help with student’s physical, mental and spiritual journeys.
Daryn teaches in Queens Park
