A Moment of Peace

Imagine a peaceful place, one that immediately makes you feel quiet inside. Maybe it’s a cool and still stone chapel, a deep wood with sunlight dappling the trees, timeless suspension floating in water, or a dark night star-gazing. The experience of peace is palpable and nourishing.

Stillness. The absence of demand. A connection to something greater. Nature and spiritual places provide that sense of peace with ease, if we are open to it. They are created for such a purpose.

When those places feel far away, my gateway to that peace lies in (and on) two blankets, two blocks, a bolster and a strap. A restorative yoga practice brings a similar sanctuary even in the midst of stressful daily life.

Restorative yoga, in contrast to the more well-known active forms of yoga, calms the nervous system by providing a space to relax into supported poses. The practice helps you feel less fatigued and less battered by your perimenopausal experiences, according to Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD., author and leading teacher of the practice since 1971. Certain poses can even stimulate the ovaries and pituitary gland to balance hormone production.

I first found the gift of the restorative practice during my high stress business career in Manhattan. As a beginner, my mind filled the quiet spa