Restorative Yoga: Understanding Why You Might Cry During Practice

Why do I cry during restorative yoga?

Crying during restorative yoga is a common and often profound physiological and psychological response, primarily due to the practice's ability to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, release stored physical and emotional tension, and facilitate the processing of suppressed emotions.

Understanding Restorative Yoga

Restorative yoga is a deeply therapeutic practice characterized by long holds in passive poses, heavily supported by props such such as bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps. Unlike more active forms of yoga, the primary goal of restorative yoga is not to stretch or strengthen, but to promote deep relaxation, calm the nervous system, and allow the body to rest and restore. The prolonged, supported holds signal safety to the nervous system, creating an environment ripe for profound internal shifts.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System Connection

Our autonomic nervous system operates primarily in two states: the sympathetic (fight, flight, or freeze) and the parasympathetic (rest and digest). Modern life often keeps us in a heightened sympathetic state, leading to chronic stress. Restorative yoga is specifically designed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

• Vagal Nerve Stimulation: The vagus nerve, a key component of the parasympathetic system, runs from the brainstem to the abdomen, influencing heart rate, digestion, and emotional regulation. Deep breathing and sustained, comfortable poses in restorative yoga stimulate the vagus nerve, signaling safety to the brain.
• Shifting from Stress: As the body shifts from a state of heightened alert to one of deep relaxation, previously suppressed or managed stress hormones (like cortisol) can decrease, and the body can finally 'let go' of tension it has been holding. This physiological shift often manifests as emotional release, including tears.

Releasing Stored Tension (Physical & Emotional)

The body has an incredible capacity to store tension, not just muscular tightness but also emotional residue from stress, trauma, and everyday life. This is often held within the fascia, connective tissues that encase muscles, organs, and bones.

• Fascial Release: The long, gentle holds in restorative yoga allow the fascia to slowly lengthen and release. As physical tension dissipates, it can unlock associated emotional blockages that were unconsciously held within the body.
• Somatic Experience: Emotions are not purely mental; they have physical manifestations. When the body is finally given permission to relax deeply, these somatic expressions of emotion can surface. Crying is a natural physiological mechanism for discharging pent-up energy and emotion.

The Polyvagal Theory Perspective

Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory offers a deeper understanding of the nervous system's role in emotional regulation. It proposes that the vagus nerve has different branches responsible for various states:

• Ventral Vagal State: Associated with social engagement, safety, and connection.
• Sympathetic State: The 'fight or flight' response.
• Dorsal Vagal State: Associated with immobilization, shutdown, and a 'freeze' response, often seen in trauma.

Restorative yoga gently guides the body out of sympathetic overdrive or a dorsal vagal 'freeze' into the ventral vagal state of safety and connection. As the nervous system feels safe enough to emerge from these defensive states, the energy that was bound up in survival responses can finally be released, often through tears or other emotional expressions.

Processing Suppressed Emotions

In our busy lives, we often push emotions aside, either consciously or unconsciously, to cope with daily demands. Restorative yoga creates a unique environment for introspection and emotional processing.

• Stillness and Introspection: The absence of external distractions and the deep stillness of the practice provide an opportunity for the mind to quiet down and for internal experiences to surface.
• Safe Container: The supportive nature of the poses and the gentle guidance of an instructor create a sense of safety, allowing latent emotions – sadness, grief, anxiety, or even joy – to come to the forefront for acknowledgment and release.

Hormonal and Neurochemical Shifts

Beyond the nervous system, restorative yoga influences our internal chemistry:

• Cortisol Reduction: As mentioned, stress hormone levels decrease.
• Oxytocin Release: Often called the 'love hormone,' oxytocin is associated with bonding, trust, and feelings of well-being. Deep relaxation can stimulate its release, which can be associated with feelings of tenderness and emotional release.
• Endorphins: While not as pronounced as with intense exercise, the feeling of release and well-being can also be linked to endorphin activity.

Grief, Trauma, and Stress Response

For individuals who have experienced significant stress, trauma, or loss, the body can hold onto these experiences.

• Somatic Memory: The body remembers. Restorative yoga can gently unlock these somatic memories, providing an opportunity for the emotional processing that may have been bypassed or incomplete at the time of the event.
• Unresolved Emotions: Tears during practice can be a sign that the body is finally releasing unresolved grief, fear, or anxiety that has been stored for a long time.

The Power of Stillness and Presence

In a world that constantly encourages action and external focus, restorative yoga demands presence and internal awareness. This shift from 'doing' to 'being' can be profoundly unsettling yet ultimately healing. When we stop distracting ourselves, our inner landscape becomes more vivid, and the emotions we've been avoiding can finally be seen and felt.

Normalizing the Experience

Crying during restorative yoga is a common and entirely normal response. It is not a sign of weakness or that something is wrong; rather, it often indicates that the practice is working effectively to release deep-seated tension and facilitate emotional processing. It signifies that your body feels safe enough to let go.

When to Seek Further Support

While crying during restorative yoga is generally a healthy release, if the emotional intensity feels overwhelming, persistent, or interferes significantly with your daily life outside of practice, it may be beneficial to speak with a mental health professional. A therapist, particularly one trained in somatic therapies or trauma-informed care, can provide additional tools and support for processing deep emotions.