I was fortunate enough to have met Eileen O Sulllivan at the Burren Yoga Centre at the start of this year. A calm energy with a bunch of daffodils in hand and a big smile, I couldn’t help but feel lovely in her company. That was even before I tried restorative yoga (now, a yoga favourite) for the very first time.
Eileen describes yoga as ‘not about your ethnic origins, socio-economic status, sexual preferences, age or physical abilities. It is cultivating an inner refuge within yourself, a welcoming home.’
Yoga is such a broad topic. It can impact in so many ways and have a massive benefit to various aspects of our well-being, should we allow it. Of course, there are so many types and like anything, it’s not a one size fits all, practice.
If you’re all about that slow down? Then, restorative yoga is right for you.
First though. Who is the woman behind this restorative yoga practice?!
Eileen, owner of restorative yoga in Cork, started with her practice of yoga over 30 years ago. Her first memory was orange robes & people snoring at relaxation along with the feeling of being very relaxed & grounded. So much so, that it encouraged her to return again & again. Fast forward a couple of wilderness years when she had babies (no prenatal yoga in those days), Eileen returned to yoga, discovering vinyasa (flow) yoga. Her passion at this stage was the physical and dynamic aspect, the practice itself and spirituality hadn’t come into it for her.
Eileen traveled to India to practice Astanga, Sri Lanka to learn about Ayurveda and slowly realised that her curiosity of yoga meant she wanted to learn to teach & that she was passionate about the physical asana but also about meditation and pranayama – yoga breathing practices. One of the essential Yoga practices is understanding that how you breathe has a direct effect on your nervous system & wellbeing. In yoga we breath through the nostrils to warm, filter, hydrate the breath & particularly to slow the breath down (this is your rest & digest) parasympathetic nervous system that effects how you assimilate your food. And, to encourage a deep sleep, (something most people could do with some extra help with) as modern science now knows that our digestive system effects our mood & immune response.
‘Also, how we sleep directly effects our mood & every one of our 9 major organ systems – that’s a big deal. Put it like this, who couldn’t do with a bit of help like that in their life? You could think of it a yoga life hacks!’
Remember to take into account that in the western world, being busy is glorified. There’s this attitude of pushing harder, doing more and as a result, a lot of people are chronically stressed & exhausted. Many people are up regulating with caffeine & down regulating with alcohol.
‘This has a really detrimental effect on us long term. What we require exploring is balance, in yoga and in life. This is not a destination, it’s a life long practice.’
As someone who loved dynamite yoga, practicing restorative yoga was a revelation for Eileen. The soothing calming effect of using props to support the body in gentle asana, facilitated deep relaxation without any demands on the body. It is the most accessible of all yoga practices as literally anyone can practice regardless of ability or age. Covid encouraged so many to try this practice at home using pillows, duvets & towels. You don’t even need a yoga mat, just a willingness to explore.
- To get into restorative, simply start by setting some time aside and using whatever props you have to hand, to support the body and limbs. Try rolling up a towel to place along the spine in a simple backbend, (remembering comfort is the essence) or cushion between knees in a spinal twist. Wrap yourself in a blanket to ensure you are warm and cosy.
- Then set a timer (nothing too jarring, a gentle sound ideally) The emphasis is on opening rather than stretching the body. The practice is a gift to yourself, cultivating your own body’s natural intelligence, releasing muscular tension and encouraging a soporific grounding effect. It is quite a radical act of well-being.
A Pilates instructor and yoga therapist, Eileen has trained in a variety of practices from vinyasa flow, yin, yoga tune-up, meditation, special yoga for Adults with Special Needs, prenatal Yoga, yoga Nidra, trauma sensitive yoga, but as a senior trainer with Restorative yoga, it is the one practice that has most impact on people again and again. Though gentle, it has a deceptively powerful effect, not just while in the poses, but the residue beyond the yoga mat.
During Covid all teachings reverted to online, Eileen had taught 1/2/1’s via Skype to a student in Germany years previously but zoom really opened the world and online was a life line for many at a really difficult time. Yoga has been a tool that Eileen shares using Yoga therapy, supporting people with their health, different abilities, teaching corporate classes or Displaced Refugees.
To learn more about Eileen and her teachings, visit https://www.restorativeyogaireland.com/