Relax and Restore Explained: Your Guide to Yin + Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra in Hitchin (or Online)
In a world that moves so fast, it's easy to forget the importance of slowing down.
Finding a little breathing space – time just for you – can feel like a rare luxury.
That's where Relax & Restore comes in: a gentle, deeply nourishing class designed to soothe your nervous system, rest your body, and calm your mind.
I'm thrilled to share that Relax & Restore is now available both in-person in Hitchin and online — so you can join us wherever you are.
Let’s take a closer look at what Relax & Restore is all about...
What is Relax & Restore?
Relax & Restore blends three deeply restful practices; Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yoga Nidra, into a deeply relaxing class.
It's all about slowing right down, tuning inwards, and creating space for genuine rest and renewal.
This class is open to everyone - whether you're brand new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner looking for more stillness in your life.
Each session is a powerful act of self-care, and can provide tangible benefits to your body, mind, and nervous system - more info on the science below!
Yin Yoga Explained
Yin Yoga is a beautifully slow, floor-based practice where we hold poses for several minutes at a time… typically between three and five minutes. This may seem like a long time but I will typically give you something to focus on when you are in the pose, whether that be the physical sensations in the body, your breath or learning something new.
Rather than engaging muscles in dynamic movement that you’ll find in other styles of yoga, Yin yoga targets the deeper connective tissues: your fascia, ligaments, tendons, and joints.
By holding these postures for longer, you allow these tissues to gently stretch and hydrate, supporting mobility, flexibility, and joint health as you age.
Physiologically, Yin Yoga stimulates the body's parasympathetic nervous system - the "rest and digest" state - helping to reduce chronic stress and anxiety. It also gently stimulates the body's fascial networks, which recent research shows are crucial not just for physical flexibility but for emotional resilience too (Source: Fascial Research Congress).
Benefits of Yin Yoga include:
Improved joint health and flexibility
Support for healthy circulation and fascia hydration
Greater emotional balance and resilience
A meditative, mindful state that can help ease anxiety and promote calm
You can read more about Yin Yoga in my Beginners Guide to Yin Yoga here
Many students find Yin Yoga to be their first real taste of stillness - a space to just be, without needing to strive or achieve. For many of us it can be a challenge to remain still but this is part of the practice! Allowing yourself to pause and slow down is so beneficial for both your body and your mind.
Restorative Yoga Explained
Restorative Yoga takes relaxation to another level.
In this practice, we use an abundance of props - bolsters, blankets, blocks, straps - to completely support the body.
Unlike Yin, where you may feel a good stretch, Restorative poses are very passive. The goal is total comfort and deep rest. In my classes I like to combine both yin and restorative poses so you get a good balance of working your deep connective tissues with yin and total relaxation with restorative - ensuring you fully activate your parasympathetic nervous system.
Research increasingly points to the importance of activating the parasympathetic nervous system to counteract the effects of chronic stress and burnout, and Restorative Yoga is proven to be a direct, practical way to do that. (Source: University of Louisville Report)
Benefits of Restorative Yoga include:
Reduction in stress hormones such as cortisol
Lower blood pressure and heart rate
Improved digestion and immune function
Emotional balance and support through challenging times (such as grief, fatigue, or anxiety)
Restorative Yoga also creates the conditions for deep self-healing. It’s especially valuable for those recovering from illness, injury, burnout, or simply a busy life.
In today’s fast-paced culture, taking time to slow right down can be one of the most radical and healing acts of self-care.
Yoga Nidra Explained
Yoga Nidra - often called "yogic sleep" - is a guided form of meditation practised lying down, in a comfortable, supported position. It’s a lovely practice where you don’t have to “do” anything, you simply listen to my voice as I guide you through a journey.
During a Yoga Nidra session, you’ll be invited to drift into a state between waking and sleeping. In this liminal space, the body deeply relaxes while the mind remains gently aware. Although you should try to remain awake in the practice, it’s very common for people to fall asleep so please don’t worry too much if you do… you should still be getting some brilliant benefits of the practice as your mind will likely take in the words even if you don’t remember them.
Scientific studies have shown that Yoga Nidra can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD (Source: National Library of Medicine).
Brain scans show that Yoga Nidra can help shift brainwave patterns into the theta and delta states - associated with deep meditation, creativity, and healing.
Benefits of Yoga Nidra include:
Improved sleep quality and support for insomnia
Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
Enhanced clarity, creativity, and emotional resilience
A feeling of deep inner peace and connection
Yoga Nidra is a wonderful way to end the practice as you can completely let go at this stage, and simply listen, rest, and let the practice unfold naturally. It's like giving your body and mind the chance to hit the reset button… a half hour of yoga nidra is said to be the equivalent of four hours of good quality sleep!
Why Practise Relax & Restore in Hitchin (or Online)?
Whether you join us in-person in Hitchin or online from the comfort of your home, Relax & Restore offers you a precious chance to slow down and reconnect.
In-person: Practise in a welcoming, peaceful space in the heart of Hitchin, surrounded by community and connection.
Online: Join from anywhere - all you need is a quiet corner, a mat, and a few cosy props.
My online classes are designed to feel just as nurturing and personal as being in the room.
No matter how you join, you’ll be guided with kindness and care, with plenty of options and modifications to suit your needs.
What to Expect in a Class
Each Relax & Restore session flows gently, with plenty of time to settle into stillness.
A typical class might include:
Grounding breathwork to ease you into the present moment
Slow, mindful Yin postures to open the body and release tension
Deeply supported Restorative shapes inviting effortless relaxation
A closing Yoga Nidra meditation to leave you feeling deeply refreshed
There’s absolutely no rush, no striving - just space for you to breathe, rest, and reconnect with yourself.
You don’t need to be flexible, fit, or experienced. This is a space where you are welcome exactly as you are.
Join Us
You’re warmly invited to join our first hybrid Relax & Restore class - happening on Monday, 12th May 2025.
It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the deep, healing benefits of slowing down — whether you join us in Hitchin or online.
Classes will continue regularly, so if you can’t make this one, there will be more chances to relax and restore soon.
Ready to unwind?
Book your place here or feel free to email me (hannah@workerbeeyoga.co.uk) if you have any questions - I'd love to hear from you. Don’t forget if it’s your first time at Worker Bee Yoga, then your first class is free!
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Hello, I'm Hannah, a qualified yoga teacher based in Hitchin, passionate about creating spaces for rest, reconnection, and renewal.
With specialist training in Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra, I offer nurturing classes designed to meet you exactly where you are. Whether you're joining in person or online, my approach is gentle, accessible, and grounded in the belief that rest is not a luxury - it's essential.
I can't wait to share the magic of Relax & Restore with you.
