Is Restorative Yoga Truly De-Stressing?

Yoga teacher Jenni Rawlings and Exercise Science professor Travis Pollen discuss a controversial study that found that stretching was more de-stressing than restorative yoga. Could this assertion possibly be true?

Points of discussion include:

• The temptation to make definitive conclusions based on the results of a single study
• What is the “stress response” (a biological process in the human body)?
• What’s the relationship between restorative yoga and the stress response?
• What’s the relationship between exercise in general and the stress response?
• Foundational tips for reading and analyzing a research article
• What did the researchers in this study do, and what did they find?
• What are some practical applications we yoga practitioners might take away from this study?
• …And much more!

Enjoy this engaging and eye-opening discussion for yoga, movement, and fitness geeks!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Jenni’s email newsletter

Strength for Yoga Remote Group Training – ongoing, interactive monthly strength program for yogis designed by Jenni & Travis

Online yoga class library & yoga anatomy workshops with Jenni

Strength for Yoga email newsletter

Article: Effect of restorative yoga vs. stretching on diurnal cortisol dynamics and psychosocial outcomes in individuals with the metabolic syndrome

Article: The Rise of Online Yoga

To find out more about Travis Pollen: website / Instagram

Music used with generous permission from Dischord A Cappella.

Support the show

**Become a supporter of the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast – starting at $3/month!