Restorative and Therapeutic Iyengar Yoga
Gentle, prop-supported asanas designed to relieve stress, soothe the nervous system, and restore physical equilibrium through the precise Iyengar method.
This is a supported Savasana on a Simhasana Box, a prop designed to open the chest and support the spine's natural curves. This posture encourages deeper breathing and helps the body shift into a state of rest and recovery.
Students practice Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose) with props. This therapeutic sequence is excellent for relieving back pain, sciatica, and stiffness in the hips and hamstrings.
Students relax in Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose). This gentle inversion calms the nervous system, reduces fatigue, and helps to balance hormones by stimulating the endocrine glands.
This video shows students in a supported Bhishmasana, a pose specifically designed for cardiac health, anxiety, and depression. The elevation of the chest allows for increased circulation and a sense of surrender.
A glimpse from our workshop on hormonal balance. Here, students use props in various restorative poses to soothe the nervous system and support the healthy function of the endocrine glands.
This video shows a restorative sequence using a Simhasana Box and wall ropes. This setup creates gentle traction in the spine and opens the chest, making it highly beneficial for relieving back tension and improving posture.
This sequence demonstrates a supported Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose). Using blocks and a bolster under the sacrum allows the body to relax completely, making it a powerful pose for stress relief and rejuvenation.
This video shows a supported Setu Bandhasana using multiple blocks. This setup allows for a passive backbend that opens the chest, stimulates the abdominal organs, and calms the mind.
This supported backbend with ankle weights is designed to create space and release tension in the lower back and hips. The weights help to ground the legs, allowing the spine to lengthen and decompress.
This supported Halasana (Plow Pose) uses a stool and weights. This therapeutic variation is excellent for athletes or anyone with tight hamstrings, as it allows the muscles to release passively while calming the nervous system.
About Restorative & Therapeutic Sequences
In these therapeutic sequences, we do not push for intensity; instead, we use chairs, wall ropes, and bolsters to passively hold poses for 3–5 minutes. This creates space in the spine and joints, allowing the body to bypass typical muscular resistance and shift directly into the parasympathetic nervous system, which is essential for managing chronic stiffness or stress.
In the Iyengar tradition, therapeutic yoga is not about 'fixing' the body in a hurry. It is about understanding the systemic roots of tension and using precise alignment to cultivate healing from within. Whether you are dealing with sciatica, chronic back pain, or the mental fatigue of hormonal imbalances, these restorative sequences are crafted to restore the body's natural intelligence.
The Role of Props in Healing
We rarely use the body alone in therapeutic work. By using wooden blocks, bolsters, wall ropes, and chairs, we distribute the weight of the body, allowing the nervous system to let go. For instance, when we practice Supta Padangusthasana with an elevated leg or Supported Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, the prop acts as a stabilizer. This grounding effect tells the brain it is safe to relax, which is the necessary precursor to physical recovery.
Who These Sessions Are For
These restorative workshops are suitable for everyone, including those with limited flexibility or injuries. Because we adapt each posture to your current state, you do not need to be 'fit' to start. My role as your teacher is to observe your alignment, offer micro-adjustments, and ensure you are working within your capacity, not beyond it.
Practical Details
I conduct these sessions in small, focused groups at my studio in the Qutab Institutional Area, Delhi, as well as live online for those who prefer to practice at home. In my online classes, I guide you on how to repurpose household furniture—like sofas and sturdy chairs—to simulate professional studio equipment, ensuring your home practice is safe and effective.
Amina Sarkar Bharat Ram
I am a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, but I remain a student of my gurus—B.K.S. Iyengar, Geetaji, and Prashantji—every single day. My practice is a direct transmission of the lineage I have been gifted, and I am here to help you use the asana as a doorway to your own inner clarity.
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