Treat yourself to a deeply relaxing, passive practice in the comfort and safety of your own home. In restorative yoga the body is fully and comfortably supported with props. Each pose is typically held for five to ten minutes so that accumulated stress and tension is gently released. Guided relaxation and breath awareness assist release, so the nervous system and vital organs are deeply nourished and return to equilibrium, facilitating the body's relaxation and self-healing processes.

Suggested props: 3 or more thick blankets and or large towels; a yoga bolster or some firm pillows or cushions, such as a couch cushion; a chair (folding metal or dining room). Having a clear wall available is a plus; if not, options will be offered.

Zoreh Afsarzadeh, founder and director of High Desert Yoga, has been teaching yoga since 1985. Zoreh’s upbringing in Iran started her on the path of Sufism, meditation,…