Restorative yoga helps shift the balance from your fight-or-flight response (sympathetic nervous system) to your relaxation response, or the parasympathetic nervous system. Enhances your mood. Yoga promotes relaxation and deep breathing, which, according to research , may reduce depressive symptoms. The benefits of restorative yoga are similar to the many benefits of other styles of yoga, including: Increased relaxation: Deep breathing calms the nervous system to promote relaxation, and research supports a restorative yoga practice as an effective way to relax.