The Restorative – aka Relaxing – Way to Do a Squat

For this month’s therapeutic tip, try “squatting” laying down and with the support of a wall.

Joanne Varni

Articles\Yoga

malasana, restorative, restorative yoga, squats, therapeutic tip of the month, yoga, yoga pose

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Malasana, or squat, can be challenging in its traditional expression. When we move the pose to a wall, however, it opens up a lot of possibilities because we don’t have to balance ourselves if we are struggling, or worry about putting stress on the knees. Doing this at the wall gives us the freedom to move as close or away from the wall as our hips require. It also allows us to experiment with different variations with the feet, as well as explore the space between the feet to open the hips. Because we have support, most people will likely be able to stay at the wall for a much longer period of time, in a more passive state, as the muscular energy required is so much less than in a traditional squat. Opening the hips is also helpful for increasing digestion, which allows the nervous system to not have to work as hard.

Joanne Varni

Joanne's philosophy as a yoga teacher is to help people who seek personal empowerment feel connected to their bodies, quiet their mind, stimulate a healthy nervous system, and release tension in the body caused by stress, anxiety, or trauma. Her teaching technique uses a combination of breath work, meditation, gentle asanas, somatic yoga, and neurogenic tremoring. Additionally, Joanne specializes in helping those with trauma (including PTSD) and has attended and completed her Level II certification in TRE (Trauma/tension release exercises) with Dr. David Bercelli. She is also certified as TSY teacher (Trauma Sensitive Yoga) under the renowned guidance of trauma researcher and pioneer Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (The Trauma Center at JRI). Joanne teaches classes, workshops, teacher trainings, as well as running retreats locally and internationally. She also teaches Yoga for Trauma Recovery at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Jose, California and has voluntarily taught yoga to women incarcerated at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas and the Center for Survivors of Torture in San Jose. Joanne is an ERYT500 and earned her 200 hour and 500 hour YA certification through Jennifer Prugh’s YA certified “JOY of Yoga” teacher training. She completed her Therapeutic Yoga teacher training with Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal and her Yin Yoga Teacher training under Paul and Suzy Grilley. A twenty-year resident of Los Gatos, she enjoys spending time with her husband John, and children, Anthony, Steven, and Nicole.