Rediscovering the security blanket

When do we stop getting tucked into bed? As a child, I remember the safety and security of my mother coming into my room and tucking me under the covers, and I happily continued the tradition when my two children were little. But as we grow up, the tucking stops and it is up to us to settle into bed by ourselves. That is unfortunate, because I think getting tucked in is one of the most comforting things in the world. I had forgotten how wonderful it is until last week when I took a restorative yoga class. Propped on bolsters and blocks and with eyes covered with lavender-scented eye bags, I and about 10 others students laid prone and breathed while our instructor circled the room and covered us in blankets during every pose. Getting covered by the blanket was immensely comforting, almost womb-like, and allowed me to deeply relax, which is the point of restorative yoga. Unlike other forms of yoga that focus on the muscles and tendons, the deeply held postures of restorative yoga target the connective tissues and joints, allowing you to relax and giving you more energy. I have started incorporating a few restorative yoga postures at the end of my classes at the Mercy Center and students seem to like it, especially the blanket. It's a great way to end a class and introduce them to a style of yoga that they have never tried. Even my mother is hooked. Saddled with a bad knee, she is now doing a few poses to relieve pain until she can get into the doctor next week. For more information, go to Beachroseyoga.com.