Restorative yoga, also called active relaxation, uses props, such as blankets, blocks, bolsters and straps to help you soften and relax into each pose. Many people do restorative yoga as a healing practice. After pacemaker surgery, your doctor may recommend limited exercise and avoiding heavy lifting for the first four to six weeks. As you recover, the American Heart Association suggests gentle daily exercise -- and to listen to your body so as not to overdo it.
Benefits
Restorative yoga teaches you to relax deeply. In each restorative pose, you get a full workout in active relaxation by focusing on your breath, developing awareness and connecting your body and mind. Restorative yoga activates your parasympathetic nervous system and balances your body and mind. As you heal -- and after you recover -- from surgery, these relaxing poses have a positive effect on your overall health and well-being.
Setting Up
To practice restorative yoga at home, you can either purchase the necessary props or use what you already have. Props you might use include a bolster, or sofa cushions as a substitute, several blankets, yoga blocks, a yoga strap or large belt, and an eye pillow. Find a quiet spot, put on soft, restful music and light a scented candle or incense. Set aside at least a half-hour for your practice.
Restorative Poses
Start by warming up your spine with cat/cow pose on your hands and knees. Supta baddha konasana, or reclining bound angle pose, helps regulate blood pressure and improve blood circulation. Use the bolster and blankets under your spine, the belt around your legs and the blocks under your knees. A gentle inversion, such as legs up the wall, helps calm your nervous system and also regulates blood pressure. Savasana, or corpse pose, is a true pose of letting go. It soothes your sympathetic nervous system and relieves fatigue, both mentally and physically. Get deeper into your savasana by using your props -- bolster under your spine, a folded blanket under your head, a rolled blanket under your knees and an eye pillow over your eyes.
Considerations
Consult with your physician before practicing any kind of yoga. Spend time in each restorative pose and make the necessary adjustments so you are comfortable. Hold each resting pose for as long as 15 minutes. To avoid dizziness or light-headedness, take extra precautions when coming out of restorative poses, especially after lying down.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Pacemaker - What You Can Expect
- American Heart Association: Living With Your Pacemaker
- "Relax and Renew"; Judith Lasater; 1995
