Restorative & Immune Yoga
with Chris Lalor

Try a Darwin restorative yoga and immune system yoga class that's run at "OPEN" level. Please note that this means it is open to both beginners and non-beginners. However, we strongly recommend that beginners have at least three months of Iyengar Yoga classes, or the teacher's okay to attend. 

This Darwin restorative yoga class is run at a higher level than the 4pm Saturdays restorative yoga class in Woolner, or in Coolalinga. 

Restorative yoga is different from normal so-called "active yoga". Some of Flametree's regular, active yoga classes do include restorative yoga classes, especially towards the end of the sequence of poses that you'll do.

In addition, some special focus classes, such as Women's Wellness Yoga at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesdays in Woolner, also include more restorative yoga than average classes. 

At Flametree's restorative yoga classes in Darwin (or online), you hold poses for a longer period using props. You also do a smaller number of poses in the class. 

The sequence of yoga poses in a restorative yoga class, and the type of poses that are taught, are designed to work on the calming side of your nervous system. 

As a result, they are especially good for stress, mindfulness, and dealing with anxiety or upsets. 

Because they also build mindfulness, they are also very helpful for encouraging mindful eating. 

As they deal with stress, they can also be very effective in heading off emotional eating. 

As a result, people often find them also useful for weight loss yoga classes. 

It's counterintuitive, but by doing less and de-stressing more, restorative yoga classes can be much more effective than hot, active, sweaty exercise or even flow yoga classes of other styles. 

See more about mindful eating and why Iyengar Yoga works very effectively for weight loss. 

Also bear in mind that it's simply not feasible to run off, work off, or otherwise sweat off the amount of sugar and other material consumed via eating too much of the wrong things. Learn more about what's involved in working off too much chocolate!

Restorative Yoga was pioneered by Mr. BKS Iyengar in India. He originally started using props to deal with some of his own physical injuries and issues. 

But he then found, including via his study of classical yoga, that restorative yoga had a much longer history and was designed and used for the type of matters outlined. 

Restorative Yoga is available in some other non-Iyengar types of studios, but it usually uses less props. 

The Flame Tree is relatively unique in that it offers three restorative yoga classes per week. 

We also find that it is our most popular type of yoga. This is partly due to the fact that stress levels have increased since COVID started, and have then stayed at that same high level. 

Many at workplaces are dealing with very difficult situations, while those in home care situations and otherwise are also dealing with higher amounts of stress at home. 

To see more about Flametree Restorative Yoga classes and approach, including pictures of some of the many poses that you'll learn, please follow the links to these two restorative yoga class descriptions.

Some of the ways in which restorative yoga works, are also explained in this Facebook post.