Yin

Many of you practice Yin Yoga. Some of you may have heard of it, while others have no idea what it is. It initially appears as a slower, less energetic style of yoga, a practice of holding poses for extended periods. This may seem uninteresting to those who prefer to break a sweat when working through asanas, however it is well worth exploration to understand the practice and benefits Yin Yoga offers.

Finding Balance

The world of yoga, where vigorous styles like Ashtanga and Vinyasa dominate, Yin Yoga emerges as a balancer. Yang practices such as Vinyasa ignite a fiery energy, while Yin invites us to explore stillness, therefore providing equilibrium to what is typically out of balance: constantly in a yang state.

Yin and Yang

The principles of Yin and Yang mirror the functioning of our nervous system. The masculine, fiery Yang energy, aligns with our fight-or-flight response known as the sympathetic nervous system. In contrast, the feminine, nurturing Yin energy is our parasympathetic nervous system known as “rest and digest”.

Emotional Release

Yin Yoga serves as a conduit for emotional exploration and release. As we hold poses for extended durations in stillness, discomfort of the mind may arise allowing for a more meditative approach that includes the body. I found that after practicing Yin for a period of time, I was able to stay with discomfort in my mind when not practicing yoga, facing it head on and allowing it to dissipate with out intense reaction.

Unlocking the Meridians

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, meridians serve as conduits of life force energy, or chi, that moves through the body. Through Yin Yoga, we target these meridians with specific poses, to release blockages caused by emotions and stress. Yin Yoga is not Chinese medicine but we are playing on the same playground. Traditional Chinese Medicine is an entire way of living to prevent disease. Therefore diet, movement, breath, mental awareness and the application of acupuncture and herbs where needed, all form part of a beautiful system of preventative medicine. Yin Yoga is a companion to the intricacies for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Fascia

Within our bodies lies a vast network of fascia, akin to a web that holds us. I like to think of it as shrink wrap! Through Yin Yoga's gentle, sustained stretches, we unravel tension stored within the fascia, promoting mobility and vitality. The results right after or even the next day are oh so good.

Vinyasa Junkies

You may only practice Yang yoga, (Power Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Hot Yoga, Ashtanga) something that's fast-paced and/or continuously moving through the poses. These practices are wonderful as they allow you to release energy. We often feel the need to release energy in this way as the movement is immediately soothing, you are forced to use your breath, and you don’t have to deal with still-mind chatter. Current society doesn’t help matters with the demands to be Yang all the time. We need that Yang energy to survive, but when we are always in a Yang state of mind, we fall out of balance.

I was a Vinyasa junkie. It was the only yoga I wanted to practice, being a Type A, overachiever. Savasana was torture for me. I entered Yin via Restorative. Restorative allowed me to completely rest, propped up, in a class where the space typically was a movement room for me. After a few years of a restorative practice and learning how to teach it (and seeing how rest immediately changes the energy of a student in class), I gravitated towards Yin Yoga. I have another post about that experience.

You do not need to stop your Yang style practices. We need the balance. I would say the same to practitioners who only do Restorative or Yin. Find a yoga practice that has active movement to compliment your still practices.

Life is all about balance. We're balancing our right and left sides. We're balancing the masculine and feminine energy within us. We're balancing the Yang and the Yin.

Discomfort

Our mental chatter. Our state of doing. Many of us have minds bustling with thoughts, in search for entertainment, seeking activities to occupy us. ALL THE TIME. This is where the challenge lies in Yin Yoga as it may seem monotonous. Holding a pose for 5-7 minutes, emotions start to surface and you start to think you can’t do this. But you can. You come back to the breath, back to the now and explore the physical sensations of the pose. Mind wanders, you bring it back. It is meditation in the art of still asana.

Integration

Incorporating Yin Yoga into our practice adds to harmony and well-being. Regardless of age and level of practice, Yin Yoga cultivates stillness and surrender, with physical and mental release.