I don’t quite know what made me first sign up for a Asana Stretch Class. It might have been seeing the candlelit room from outside on a cold evening. Or maybe it was hearing another student refer to it as “delicious.” However I got there the first time, I keep coming back.

When I go to explain it to others, though, I admit I can get stymied. I tend to say that it’s a bit like a moving meditation combined with yoga, massage, and assisted stretching. It’s bodywork, with hands-on assistance from instructors, but gravity does most of the work. It’s a restorative practice designed by Six Degrees to bring the benefits of Pranassage (itself meant to impart the benefits of yoga passively) to more than one client at a time. And it’s one of the best ways to treat yourself that I’ve ever found.

Offered Monday and Wednesday evenings and Friday afternoons, Asana Stretch Class helps get the energy of the body both moving and grounded. Your eyes are closed most of the time, as your assistant (there is usually a hands-on assistant for every four students) helps guide you into and out of stretches, providing props before you even realize you need them and working to make this a nourishing experience for everyone in the room.

Throughout class, you’ll feel the weight of your body on a blanket, supported by bolsters or blocks, and you’ll smell light incense, lavendar, eucalyptus, whatever it is the instructor for the night has decided will best support this particular group of people. When you leave, it’s pure, relaxed yet invigorated bliss.

Plan to bring your own yoga mat (and a blanket, if you’re allergic or sensitive to wool) and wear clothing that is comfortable and moves well. Baggy is okay here, and you may even want to wear grippy socks to keep you cozy in this warm, inviting environment. The teachers will take care of everything else, helping you seal your intention and open your heart as you head back into the world. For this one hour, the body isn’t just a tool, it’s the one and only place you truly inhabit. I strongly suggest you let go, giving your body the gift of Asana Stretch Class.