The Practice of Doing Less: Restorative Yoga & the Energy of Brahmacharya
When was the last time someone invited you over to do… nothing?
We’re normally asked to add things to our plates. It’s unfamiliar to feel the expansiveness of a couple of free hours with no obligations to tend to. We add tasks to our to-do lists like Boy Scout badges—trying to accomplish, complete, and prove something. As if the more we’ve checked off, the more our day was worthwhile.
Yoga’s ethical principles—particularly Brahmacharya—asks us to consider where we’re placing our energy. This teaching invites us to reflect on the purpose behind our actions. Are we moving through life with awareness, or are we scattering our energy in a hundred directions without pause?
Brahmacharya is often translated as “celibacy,” but I’ve also heard it explained in ways that feel much more expansive: conservation of energy, walking with the Divine, or living in conscious balance with our life force. I reflected more on this concept in a previous post: One Step at a Time.
I’ve found the practice of Restorative Yoga to embody the spirit of Brahmacharya particularly well.
It differs from other forms of asana practice in that it’s not about stretching or strengthening; it’s about stillness and rest. It emphasizes deep support, slowing down, and replenishing the physical, mental, and energetic bodies. By activating the parasympathetic nervous system (our “rest and digest” mode), restorative yoga helps bring the entire system toward a state of relative balance and health.
This practice aligns with Brahmacharya because it doesn’t ask you to use your energy, but instead asks you to recharge it. To reset, to re-align. In a world that feels (to me) obsessed with productivity, efficiency, and being constantly “on,” restorative yoga is a radical invitation to do less. To rest. To conserve.
If you’d like to try restorative yoga at home, here are two simple postures to begin with. You can practice them on your own, or follow along with the video at the end of this post, where I also include gentle stretches to ease tension before we settle into stillness.
Supported Side Lying Pose
To come into this posture, lay one side of your torso over a bolster, pillow, or cushion. Place your arms in any comfortable position. Rest your head on a block or another pillow if it needs a bit of lift. You may also like a folded blanket or another pillow between your knees for support.
Set a timer for anywhere from 5–10 minutes and simply be in the pose. Let go of the need to do anything else.
When your timer goes off, gently switch to the other side.
Savasana
Also known as Corpse Pose, this is a posture of total surrender.
Your only goal is to let your body relax completely. Support under the knees or legs with a cushion so they have a slight bend. Use a pillow under your head if needed. If lying flat on your back doesn’t feel good, lie on your side, or even on your belly—whatever feels the most supportive and soft.
Set a timer for at least 10 minutes, or even 20 if you’re craving deep rest.
If your mind needs something to anchor to, let your breath be your focus. You might silently say “Inhale” and “Exhale” with each breath. You might count the length of each breath, or gently encourage your exhale to be a bit longer than your inhale (A longer exhale can help tone the vagus nerve, supporting the body’s relaxation response).
If you feel antsy, fidgety, or distracted—know that’s normal. Bliss and peace might come one day and feel completely out of reach the next. That’s okay. It’s all practice. And like any practice, obstacles will arise. But these obstacles are worth facing. They help build strength, resilience, and a sense of trust with yourself; in the stillness, in the moment, just as it is.
You don’t need to suffer through intense discomfort or pain. That’s not the point. Some days, sitting with discomfort can lead to growth. Other days, it’s just not helpful… and that’s okay, too.
Yoga invites us to meet ourselves with honesty and grace, to honor whatever we can or can’t hold on any given day. So let grace in. And maybe a little gratitude, too, for even trying. That effort alone is something to celebrate.
Less of “burning the candle at both ends,” and more of “sitting back and watching the embers of a campfire glisten deep into a warm summer night.”
You have enough energy to get through this life—but you also deserve rest. Not as a reward. As a necessity.
Much love—and keep on practicing.
Slow Down & Rest | 45-Minute Restorative Yoga to Relax & Renew
If you’d like to be guided through this practice, the video below includes gentle stretches and long, supported postures to help you unwind and restore. No need to keep track of time or what’s next—just follow along and allow yourself to rest.
