I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As a very beginner yoga practitioner, this book gave excellent instructions and pictures to help to learn helpful poses! I hope to get a lot of use from it!

I have taken restorative yoga classes. Unfortunately, not long after the classes were over, I failed to continue practicing the poses on my own. I'm to blame for this. But eventually over time, I would forget which pose would provide what benefit and how to do them properly.

Lucky for me I now have this book. I allowed myself a few months before posting a review because I wanted to take the time to work through some of the poses. I found the book to be well laid out and easy to understand. There are numerous chapters on poses. Each pose offers details about props, precautions, benefits, instructions and tips. An added bonus is a chapter on breathing and meditation.

While this is titled "for beginners" I think this is a book that would be useful to anyone. I am very thankful to now have this on my e-bookshelf.

ARC from Rockridge Press and Netgalley.

I live with Fibromyalgia so keeping limber and exercising is very important to me. This book by Julia Clarke is simple to understand and relief of undue stress has been fantastic. Restorative Yoga for Beginners has helped me to begin moving in the right direction.


Thank you to NetGalley and Julia Clarke for the ARC in return for an honest review.

With chapters that describe restorative yoga and tell what one needs to know to begin, readers are prepared to work on the poses that follow.  Next is a chapter on "the basics" which includes nine poses.  This is followed by chapters on poses for stress relief, pain relief and other poses for healing.The  book then has a chapter on sequences and one on breathing and meditations.  So, as you can see, this book is pretty comprehensive, especially as each chapter includes multiple poses. The book ends with sections on resources and references.


In explaining what restorative yoga, a form of hatha yoga, is the author states:


Instead of moving through challenging standing poses, the therapeutic practice of restorative youga uses supported position to invoke deep relaxation to settle your mind and harmonize your physiology. 


Sounds good to me!


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book which includes clear directions and illustrations.  All opinions are my own.

This is a perfect introduction to Yoga and how to relax that can help with sleeping, healing and finding a better balance to your mind and body. Everything needs start someone where and this book Restorative Yoga for Beginners is the perfect beginning. It explains how each pose helps the body and why breathing is so important. It shows you that you can do these poise in your every day life.



Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Julia Clarke Restorative Yoga for Beginners: Gentle Poses for Relaxation and Healing

Yoga can be intimidating especially for a novice with health complications so I was eager to try this book and the course it offered when I read through the blurb and thought this gentler version of Yoga just might be my speed.

Restorative Yoga for Beginners is a quick read and happily gets into the poses and sequences of poses for various purposes as the main body of the book. There is an intro to what Restorative Yoga is, how it will benefit those who practice it, and how the book will proceed along with a list of items needed (and they can be found around the house). Then there was graphics, explanations, and steps of each pose before the poses were arranged in several routines that were to meet specific needs. The last section of the book was devoted to breathing and meditation that takes place during the sequences. The resources and references were also another welcome addition.

It seems hard to believe, even to me, that I’ve gone through life with only a rudimentary knowledge of yoga and very little experience of it. Another form has always been my go to for working on flexibility, balance, breathing, etc. I’ve actually been somewhat intimidated by yoga from watching videos and even others in our circle practice it and encourage me to try it (at which I failed miserably).

But, I had not heard of this third most popular form of yoga- restorative yoga. This book caught my eye when browsing through books on physical health. I think the title alone had me relaxing and was welcoming me to pick it up.

I needed something doable if I was going to form it into a weekly routine and habit. This looked like just the thing. I’m physically able to do it, even with my health complications (its low challenge stretches and offers great support for the back) and my schedule, and I can afford it over the long haul because I can do it from home and all the props can be items from in the home (blankets, chairs, towels, and large elastic bands). The space required is what would fit the length and breadth of a yoga mat (meaning work or home or on the road traveling).

I read the book through before doing anything and then I went back and practiced a few of the poses (I chose chapter four’s stress relief poses since it was the holidays- nuff said). Finally, I attempted a few of the sequences in chapter seven.

I started with A Minimalist’s Dream which didn’t involve moving my blanket roll and pillow prop much and it was a 40 minute workout. It only moved me through four poses. First it shows you the pose graphics and then step by step instructions on how to move into position and transfer positions. Emphasis was on muscle relaxation and breathing to calm the mind. Incidentally, I found that by ‘giving up’ 40 minutes that I finished with a refreshed and more centered mind and body that made me more effective and efficient at my tasks afterward helping to make up those minutes.

Next, I tried Back to Bliss sequence which was a longer routine that focused on back pain relief. I enjoyed the stretches and they didn’t hurt my back. I think it is likely one that takes time and habit for the best results. I went on through Dissolve and Evolve for headache, neck and jaw tension.

A couple of the poses are still beyond my flexibility ability, but I was able to modify so I got something out of the pose and could complete the sequence of poses. I think that this is a good thing and proves that this is exactly what I needed and I have something to work toward that is doable.

I love how this is meant to be used for a variety of issues both physical and mental. I didn’t really do the ones for positive mental energy or spiritual results or to clear the mind in meditation, but they were there. One is not meant to do every routine, but try them out and choose the ones that fit the individual need. The author emphasizes that it is best to pick a few and get so familiar with them that the person doesn’t need to think (stress over) and can just relax into the routines for top benefit.

The easy guidance, hints, and step by step instruction made this definitely good for beginners like me. I had no confusion or trouble following along. I think making it habit will not be beyond me so I take that as an all around win and can recommend this book to others.

Restorative Yoga for Beginners by Julia Clarke is an comprehensive and informative introduction to the practice that is an excellent purchase for both beginners and experts. The book offers readers a variety of necessary components—including pose illustrations, prop lists, precautions, benefits. detailed instructions, and tips. The book is an excellent resource for yogis of all levels.

An excellent guide that says exactly what it does! A lot of insightful information providing a great start.

Thanks to Netgalley and Callisto Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have never done yoga before but have been told multiple times to try it to help my lower back pain. I loved that this book shows me what I equipment I need, where this position stretches/helps and a simple explanation about how to do the position. I found it beneficial for a newbie who knows nothing about yoga. It helped my lower back a lot and an easy stress reliever.

Restorative Yoga for Beginners is an illustrated tutorial guide for restorative and relaxation yoga. Due out 17th Dec 2019 from Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 180 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook format (ebook available now). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes a short author bio, and a metric conversion chart, as well as interactive resources, supplies, and references lists. There is no index. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Relaxation and stress management are important themes for virtually everyone. The toll that chronic stress takes on our bodies is insidious and serious. Restorative yoga is a tool which is accessible and safe and effective and can be practiced by almost everyone no matter what their level of fitness or previous yoga experience are.

The book follows a logical progression: an introduction and tips for using the book are followed by what restorative yoga is and other basic info, followed by a section of poses for different purposes such as relaxation, stress relief, pain relief, healing, followed by sequences, and a final chapter on breathing and meditation.

The author has a positive and calm manner of writing. It's encouraging but not strident or preachy at all. The equipment used in the book is minimal and easily sourced (she provides alternatives which most readers already have around the house).

I have been having a lot of physical therapy for a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. The progress has been positive but slow and painful. I've experienced positive benefits from the information in this book, less pain and more mobility.

Five stars, definitely worth a look for anyone interested in pain and stress relief in conjunction with yoga practice.