What is Yin Yoga?

Yin is a style of yoga practiced mainly on the floor incorporating long holds of up to 5-10 minutes in each asana/ posture, whilst relaxing the muscles.

Yin targets the deeper connective tissues, ligaments, joints, and even bones that don’t get the benefits from more yang or dynamic forms of yoga. Yin Yoga incorporates Traditional Chinese Medicine knowledge, working with the energy channels or meridians through the body, by stretching or compressing these areas in the asanas/ postures. Yin is a deep, and sometimes intense practice as the stillness and amount of time in each pose takes us into the body, and we practice being present to the fluctuations of the mind. 

Where is Yin Yoga from?

The practice of Yin style postures in Yoga, can be linked back to the ancient and traditional forms of Yoga, however the creation of Yin Yoga as a style of it’s own began in the last decade of the 20th Century through the teachings of Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. 

Yin Yoga combines traditions of Indian Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine Meridian theory to work on the physical and energetic body level.

Why should I do Yin yoga?

Yin Yoga is a great style of Yoga for those who need to slow down, and deeply nourish their bodies. A regular Yin yoga practice can increase flexibility, range of movement, improves circulation and hydration of connective tissues, fascia and joint capsules. It also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing us to switch into rest and digest state, and can be beneficial in stress relief, and calming anxiety.

What are the benefits of practicing Yin yoga?

Yin Yoga provides a balance to our overly Yang lifestyles, which are constantly on-the-go, and based around striving and pushing. Yin brings us back to the present moment by allowing our bodies to come into the shapes without effort, and focus our attention on the body and mind sensations.

Yin Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, our rest and digest response- taking us out of fight-or-flight response, which has become so ingrained in everyday modern life. 

Yin Yoga allows for the nourishment of the Yin tissues, providing hydration and blood flow to these areas, which doesn’t happen in a yang style of practice that targets the superficial muscular level or yang tissues.

When should I do Yin Yoga? Can I do it everyday?

You can practice Yin Yoga at any time of day. It can be beneficial to practice at the end of the day, as it calms the nervous system, and can prepare the body and mind to slow down and improve sleep. You can practice Yin Yoga every day if you choose to, as each Yin Yoga practice is unique to your own body, you are able to adjust the depth and length of holds to suit you each time.

Does Yin Yoga tone your body?

Yin Yoga works below the muscular level on the connective tissues, fascia, ligaments, tendons and even bones. It helps to improve the flexibility and mobility of these connections and support systems deeper in the body, and is a great compliment for Yang styles of Yoga or other Yang forms of exercise that target the more superficial and muscular level of the body. 

Hatha Yoga vs Yin Yoga - what’s the difference?

Yin Yoga is a passive practice involving static positions that are passively held for anywhere from 3- 10+ minutes each. Yin yoga is about releasing effort to feel sensation in the body, and mind. Yin Yoga uses gravity, and support such as bolsters, blocks and blankets to support the appropriate level of sensation in the body during each asana/ posture.

Hatha Yoga is an active and more dynamic form of yoga compared to Yin, with some asanas/ postures held for a number of breaths. Hatha Yoga involves muscular activation and body & breath awareness. 

Yin Yoga  targets the deep tissues of the body, while Hatha Yoga targets the muscular level.

Is Yin Yoga a type of restorative yoga?

Yin Yoga is not Restorative Yoga, although the effects can feel calming, and appear similar from the outside. Yin Yoga intentionally applies tension to the connective tissues and joints during the postures, while allowing the mind to rest in awareness. Restorative Yoga aims to find deep comfort, rest, calm and complete relaxation of both body and mind. 

Is Yin Yoga beginner friendly?

Yin Yoga is perfect for beginners, with the use of support such as bolsters, blocks & blankets to help each person find the appropriate depth and level of sensation for themselves in each posture. Yin Yoga teaches awareness of the body, and body and mind sensations which can be  a benefit to practicing other more dynamic forms of yoga.

Where can I do Yin yoga?

You can practice Yin yoga in any space that will allow you to be supported, and warm during the practice, as the body temperature cools down during Yin Yoga practice. You can join me for a Yin Yoga class where I will support and guide you through the practice, either in Studio or 1:1.