Restorative Yoga Workshop

Laura Hinde and Lou Stanion are back at The Yoga Hall on Sunday 6 December for another restorative yoga workshop. It runs from 14:00 to 16:00, two hours in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, and it's part of a monthly series they've been running throughout the autumn, with previous sessions on Sunday 18 October and Sunday 8 November.

If you've never done restorative yoga, it's a far cry from a typical class. Instead of flowing from one pose to the next, you settle into a handful of restful shapes and stay there. Each one is held for ten to twenty minutes, which is long enough for your body to actually let go rather than just stretching into it. The whole point is to find deep relaxation without any effort — no stretching, no strengthening, just lying still and letting the props do the work. It's a slow, quiet practice that's more about stillness than movement.

That's where the props come in. You'll be supported by bolsters, cushions and blankets, so you're propped up and comfortable rather than balancing on your own. You don't need to bring anything with you; mats and props are provided on the day, and you don't need any previous yoga experience to join in. It's as much about the resting as it is about the yoga.

The Yoga Hall is a dedicated studio at 11 Hatfield Road, AL1 3RR, which runs regular classes and hosts other wellbeing, movement and community events. If you're driving in, the closest parking is Bricket Road North Car Park, about a two-minute walk away. The workshop costs £25, and it runs from 14:00 to 16:00 on Sunday 6 December.