Restorative Yoga & Massage

I had the absolute joy and privilege this past Sunday to attend an event conceived by yoga teacher Dhyani and yoga teacher/massage therapist Krystal, both of whom I know from The Giving Tree, my local yoga studio.  (Two more days of 30 Day Giving Tree June Yoga Challenge, by the way!)  From 2:00 to 4:00, Krystal and Dhyani lead an intimate class of about 8 or 9 of us through restorative yoga poses as well as massage.  It was, in a word, incredible.  Bliss doesn't even begin to describe it!

They held this special event at a studio in quiet, peaceful Murray Hill called mang'Oh, opened by a Laughing Lotus alum.  Mang'Oh was the perfect place for this event - it felt intimate, serene, and the gentle teal and yellow colors promoted tranquility and beauty.

The ladies introduced themselves and the event, and then we began with deep yogic pranayama (breathing techniques) led by Krystal.  After that centering beginning, poses like restorative spinal twists, restorative child's pose, and ending with legs up the wall ( just to name a few), were clearly set up and demonstrated by Dhyani.

The two hours melted away into something timeless.  Time didn't fly, exactly - it kind of stood still for a little while and then when I came back to full consciousness it was time to go.  It's not like I slipped into total mindless naptime mode and  checked out (well, sometimes I did).  Dhyani, while observing long stretches of silence, also has an incredibly soothing voice and is deeply skilled at guiding you deeper into an awareness of your physical peace. It's like she's inside your body and knows exactly what still might be holding tension or what can release more deeply.  Krystal glided silently around the room providing fantastic massages to complement whatever restorative pose we happened to be in at the time, keeping you connected to your physical body while helping you fully let go and relax.

I'm not sure what their plans are for the future in terms of how much they'll be charging, but this event cost $30 - an absolute steal for what you receive. I'll be sure to post information on when they'll hold future workshops.  I can't recommend this highly enough!  I believe it was Dhyani who described it as a reset button for your body and mind.  Especially in this crazy city, I think that's something we can all use!