Restorative poses
Supported, low-effort poses held long, where the point is to stop working rather than to work.
Beginner restorative poses 21
Learnable in a first class, with a version that works for most bodies.
Questions
What are restorative poses in yoga?
Supported, low-effort poses held long, where the point is to stop working rather than to work. YogaPath lists 21 of them, from Child's Pose through to Womb Pose.
Which restorative poses should a beginner start with?
The 21 poses in this family marked beginner: Child's Pose, Constructive Rest, Corpse Pose, Crocodile Pose, Flapping Fish Pose and others. Each has a version that works for most bodies, and each page lists who should skip it.
Are restorative poses safe for everyone?
No family of poses is. Each page in this group lists its own contraindications — pregnancy, blood pressure, glaucoma, and neck, knee, shoulder or wrist injury all rule out specific poses. Read the cautions on the individual page, ask your doctor if a condition applies to you, and learn the poses with a qualified teacher.
Asana names are traditional. Every step, benefit and caution on this page is written for YogaPath rather than reproduced from any book, studio or other library — see how this site is written. Energy figures derive from the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities. General information only — not medical advice. Some asanas are unsuitable during pregnancy, injury or specific conditions. Learn from a qualified teacher and stop if anything hurts.