What exactly is Yin Yoga
If you’ve never taken a yin yoga class before, you might be wondering what it’s all about, and how is it different to other types of yoga.
What are yin and yang?
Yin and Yang are concepts in the ancient Chinese belief system of Daoism (Taoism). Daoism is based on kindness, peacefulness and your relationship with yourself. It’s not a religion, more of a way of life.
The yin and yang in the symbol (the taijitu) are two halves of a complete circle representing wholeness and to be in balance you need to have enough of both elements. Examples of yin and yang are night (yin) and day (yang) or cold (yin) and hot (yang). Less obviously, in the human (and animal) body, yin is the bones, joints, connective tissue and fascia, whilst yang is the muscles, blood and organs.
What does this mean in yoga practice?
As with all life, yoga practice has yin and yang elements but often classes have more of the yang practice with fast or physically challenging sequences which get the heart working and blood flowing. Yang practice helps us to stay healthy and strengthens and lengthens our muscles.
A yin practice in contrast will consist of slow and calm, longer held poses. Poses may be held for anything from 1 to 5 minutes or even longer.
There is a simplicity to the yin practice but that does not mean it is easy.
What are the benefits of yin yoga?
One of the main longer term benefits of yin yoga is stronger and more flexible joints.
Most of us know that we need to exercise to stay fit and to strengthen our muscles through weight bearing activities in order to keep our bones strong and thick. What we don’t always consider is that ligaments and other connectors need work too! As we get older, our joints shorten and become stiff and injured.
Practicing yin yoga enables us to keep our joints healthy.
Because yin works deeply with the joints, please let your teacher know if you are hypermobile.
I want to learn more!
If you want to read more about the history, philosophy, principles and practice of yin yoga, the following books are highly recommended:
Yin Yoga by Paul Grilley
Complete Guide to Yin Yoga by Bernie Clarke
Insight Yoga by Sarah Powers
Brightening Our Inner Skies - Yin and Yoga by Norman Blair
I want to practice yin!
Several of our teachers including Emma, Claire and Amie have both taken additional yin yoga teacher training so feel free to ask them any questions you may have.
We have a regular 75 minute yin (or restorative class) once per month on a Sunday afternoon.
If you are a member of the studio, you can also find yin-based classes to take at any time in our on-demand video library. (You will need to log in to see the videos)