Lindsey
Why Yin Yoga
Yin yoga is rapidly growing in popularity because it’s an ideal antidote to our fast paced, busy world. Yin is the perfect balance to fast paced styles of yoga such as Ashtanga or Vinyasa, which utilize “yang” energy with quick paced, intense, heat generating movements.
Yin yoga utilizes Yin energy to introduce slowness, stillness, softness and cooling movements. This is done through longer holds of 3-5 minutes, sometimes more, while using the support of the floor, and yoga props such as blocks, straps and bolsters.
This gentle support allows the physical body to soften and relax so that the blood can circulate through the connective tissues, joints, ligaments, and all organs, rather than primarily the muscles.
Yin is a combination of Indian Yoga Principles along with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Daoism. This unique combination of healing and wisdom traditions works on all 5 layers of the body, while focusing on moving Qi (the vital, life force energy) through the meridians and organs.
Think of it like this— Qi is the energy moving through the meridians in your body, which are all connected to the organs. When there are blockages or deviations in Qi, the body can’t function properly. It’s just like a road that becomes blocked with traffic. Through the application of healthy stress, compression, tension, breath and mindfulness techniques, Yin yoga assists in removing the blocked traffic to create a healthy flow.
The Power of Conscious Touch:
Here are some other key benefits of Yin yoga:
- Joint Health
Yin is commonly referred to as the yoga for joints and ligaments because it applies healthy stress to these areas in order to increase mobility, lubricate the joints by circulating synovial fluid and producing hyaluronic acid (that coveted ingredient in face moisturizers). - Increased Mobility & Flexibility
One of the first principles of Yin yoga is to relax the muscles as much as possible. When the superficial muscles relax, the deeper connective tissues can begin to lengthen and strengthen. These integrated webs of fascia are interconnected within the entire body, which allows for increased mobility through the entire system. - Mental & Emotional Health
When the physical body begins to relax, it opens up more subtle layers such as the energetic and mental bodies— the Pranamaya and Manomaya Koshas. This allows for stagnant energy and thoughts to begin releasing and flowing. In this relaxed state, there can be enough space for thoughts and emotions to arise and gently release. While the physical body is resting, the energetic and mental bodies can take priority and are able to receive the mindful attention that there is rarely space for in day-to-day life. - Stress Reduction & Mindfulness
Yin assists the body in moving into the parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the “rest and digest” response. This restorative state allows the body to rest, repair, and reduce stress starting on a physical level, and moving into mental and emotional levels later in a pose. Yin yoga also creates the spaciousness to focus on the breath, which supports stress reduction, hormone regulation, reduced brain activity, and slower brain waves.
Yin yoga is a style of yoga that is the perfect compliment to all active “yang” styles of yoga, and a fast paced, busy life.
Through slower, softer movements, and lots of support from the floor, props, breathing and mindfulness techniques, Yin yoga is the ideal practice for those who are stressed, busy, deal with certain illnesses, lack of energy, or regularly practice intense exercise.
Yin yoga not only supports the joints, ligaments, and connective tissues on a physical level, but it also can support mental and emotional health through Qi regulation, nervous system regulation, and provide balance for the modern day “yang” lifestyle.
We cover this, and so much more on our Signature 100-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training Course where you will learn how to craft your own self practice and support your body with all the benefits mentioned above, along with learning how to share this with your students and community.
Our Yin Teacher Training will equip you with the knowledge, skills and embodiment to share this sacred practice with students in studio classes, workshops, and on retreats.
