Release and Restore Yoga Online November 17 6 to 7 PM with Sound Bowls!
Updated: 1 hour ago
The end of the year can arrive with a quiet kind of weight. There are loose ends to tie up, plans to finish, emotions to sort through, and hopes for what comes next. Before rushing into the final stretch, there is value in pausing long enough to ask a simple question: what can I gently release?
On November 17 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, an online restorative yoga session will offer space for that pause. The theme is Release and Restore Yoga, a calm, supportive practice designed to help the body soften, the breath settle, and the mind focus on what truly matters as the year comes to a close. Register here: Join Free Restorative Yoga Sessions | Mindful Solutions Co - Relax, Stretch, Unwind
This one-hour session with Melissa McDavid LPC, LMFT, LSSP, RYT-200 will take place online, making it easy to join from home. A $5.00 fee will help cover Zoom costs. At the end of class, sound bowls will be offered for added relaxation, giving the practice a peaceful closing note.
A gentle invitation to let go before the year ends
By November, many people start carrying the full weight of the year. Some of it may feel meaningful. Some of it may feel heavy. Some things may no longer fit.
There may be expectations that once felt helpful but now create pressure. There may be habits that were once useful but now drain energy. There may be plans that need to shift, conversations that need softness, or mental clutter that keeps asking for attention.
Letting go does not have to mean making a dramatic life change. It can be much quieter than that.
It might mean releasing the need to do everything perfectly.
It might mean stepping away from overcommitment.
It might mean forgiving yourself for what did not happen this year.
It might mean choosing peace over pressure for the next few weeks.
Restorative yoga creates the kind of environment where this reflection can happen without force. The body rests. The breath slows. The nervous system gets a chance to settle. In that quieter space, it can become easier to notice what feels heavy and what feels worth carrying forward.
This is the heart of the November 17 session. It is not about pushing, striving, or adding another task to the calendar. It is about creating one hour of calm attention and giving yourself permission to release what no longer serves you.
Many yoga classes build heat and movement. Restorative yoga moves in another direction. The pace is slow. The postures are supported. The body is not asked to perform. Instead, blankets, pillows, bolsters, or towels help make each shape comfortable enough to hold for several minutes.
This slower approach can be especially helpful near the end of the year. When the mind is busy, the calendar is full, or emotions feel close to the surface, rest can become a powerful practice. It gives the body a signal that it is safe to soften.
For this online session, the goal is simple: arrive as you are, settle in, and give yourself one peaceful hour to release and restore.
Why restorative yoga supports reflection
Restorative yoga works best when it gives the body enough support to stop bracing. That support may seem simple, but it can change the whole feeling of a practice.
A blanket under the knees can ease the low back.
A pillow under the chest can create a sense of being held.
A folded towel under the head can soften the neck.
A blanket over the body can create warmth and comfort.
When the body feels supported, the breath often becomes smoother. When the breath slows, the mind may begin to quiet. That does not mean every thought disappears. It means thoughts may feel less urgent.
This is one reason restorative yoga pairs well with intention setting. It helps create a gentle inner space where a person can ask honest questions without judgment.
Consider questions like:
What am I ready to stop carrying?
What has taken more energy than it has given?
What do I want the final weeks of the year to feel like?
What is one small choice that would support more peace?
What is one thing I can release with kindness?
The practice does not need to produce an instant answer. Sometimes the answer arrives as a word. Sometimes it arrives as a feeling. Sometimes it arrives later, after the class is over and the body has had time to rest.
That is part of the beauty of restorative yoga. It does not demand clarity. It creates conditions where clarity can gently arrive.
Choose one intention for a peaceful close to the year
As the year winds down, it can be tempting to create a long list of goals. Finish this. Fix that. Start over. Catch up. Plan ahead.
A long list can quickly become another source of pressure. For this session, the invitation is different. Choose one goal or intention for a peaceful close to the year.
One is enough.
It might be a word, such as:
Peace
Rest
Patience
Trust
Simplicity
Gratitude
Release
Presence
It might be a clear intention, such as:
I will make space for rest without guilt.
I will let go of what I cannot control.
I will move through the season with more patience.
I will choose one meaningful priority at a time.
I will listen to my body before saying yes.
I will close the year with gratitude for what has supported me.
The intention does not need to sound impressive. It only needs to feel honest.
During the session, that intention can become a quiet anchor. It can be repeated during a resting pose, held gently during breathwork, or simply remembered at the end of class. There is no need to force it. Let it be present, like a candle in the room.
What to expect during the online session
This event will be held online from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on November 17, so participants can join from the comfort of home. The online format makes it easier to create a private, soothing environment. There is no commute, no need to rush across town, and no pressure to look a certain way.
The practice will be gentle and accessible. Restorative yoga is typically low to the ground and slow paced. Participants can adapt the practice based on what they have at home and what feels good in their body.
Useful items may include:
A yoga mat, rug, or carpeted space
One or two blankets
A pillow or bolster
A towel for extra support
Comfortable layers or socks
Water nearby
A quiet place to rest during the sound bowls
No special equipment is required to receive the benefits of the practice. Household items work well. A couch pillow can act as a bolster. A folded blanket can support the knees. A towel can cushion the head or wrists.
The hour may include gentle settling, supported postures, breath awareness, quiet reflection, and a closing relaxation. Since the session is online, each person can adjust props, lighting, and sound in a way that feels comfortable.
The $5.00 fee helps cover Zoom costs and supports making the session accessible while still caring for the practical needs of hosting an online class.
The session will close with sound bowls for added relaxation. After the body has spent time in supported rest, sound can offer a peaceful bridge between practice and the rest of the evening.
Sound bowls create tones and vibrations that many people find calming. The sound can fill the space gently, giving the mind something soothing to follow. Instead of trying to think through the end of practice, participants can simply listen.
This can be especially supportive after intention setting. The sound becomes a place to rest the mind. It allows the body to stay quiet for a little longer. It can also help mark the closing of the practice in a meaningful way.
For an online session, it helps to prepare for this part of class with a comfortable final resting position. A blanket over the body, a pillow under the knees, or an eye pillow can make the experience feel more settled. Lowering the lights can also help create a softer atmosphere.
The sound bowl portion is not something to “do.” It is something to receive.
Creating a calm space at home
One of the gifts of online restorative yoga is the chance to turn an ordinary room into a resting place. The setup does not need to be perfect. A few simple choices can make the session feel more intentional.
Before class begins, try to give yourself a few extra minutes. Set up your mat or resting space. Gather blankets and pillows. Plug in your device. Check the volume. Let anyone nearby know you will be in a quiet practice from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.
Small details can help:
Dim the lights or use a lamp instead of bright overhead lighting.
Place your device where you can see and hear without strain.
Keep extra layers nearby in case the body cools down.
Silence notifications if possible.
Have a journal nearby for a few notes after practice.
A calm space supports a calm practice. Still, the room does not have to be silent or picture perfect. Restorative yoga can meet real life as it is. A pet may wander through. A sound may happen outside. A blanket may need adjusting. All of that can be part of the practice of softening.
The goal is not to create a flawless environment. The goal is to create enough comfort to rest.
Rest does not need to be earned. Reflection does not need to be complicated. Letting go can begin with one breath, one supported posture, one honest intention.
Join online on November 17 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM for Release and Restore Yoga. Bring a mat or a soft place to rest, a few blankets or pillows, and a willingness to soften. The fee is $5.00 to cover Zoom costs, and the session will end with sound bowls for added relaxation.
Let this be a quiet step toward a more peaceful close to the year.
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