Yin Yoga
Written By: Alexis Kane
When I first began my yoga journey, I was attracted to the fast-paced, sweaty and dynamic
Vinyasa-styled class. My ego was in the front and center of each practice, and I compared myself to the practitioners next to me as I tried to attain a new pose each week. Nearly two years into my yoga practice I decided to sign up for teacher training and was given the opportunity to learn about ALL styles of yoga, and permanently checked my ego for good. Enter
Yin Yoga.
Yin Yoga may not be known as the sexiest yoga out there, but the benefits received are undeniable. This slow-paced style of yoga targets deep connective tissue (ligaments, tendons, and fascia) by holding floor postures for longer periods of time (5 minutes or more). This lengthened pause not only challenges and balances the mind but aims at clearing blocked myofascial meridians, releasing deep fascial tension and ultimately increasing flexibility.
What can you expect from a Yin class?
●Leave any preconceived expectations you’ve gained from attending other traditional yoga classes at the door – this will be different both physically and mentally.
●Postures are cued differently in Yin (for Example, Baddha konasana is called ‘butterfly’)
and alignment rules are not the same.
●You may find it mentally challenging to hold a pose for minutes at a time – and this is perfectly OK! I find closing my eyes and repeating a mantra such as “breathe in
gratitude, exhale tension” very helpful in calming the mind during a Yin practice
●Listen to your body and find YOUR edge. Strong stretching is the goal, NOT pain.
●Remember your breath.
●Expect a sense of calmness and balance after your practice.
If you haven’t tried a Yin class yet, what are you waiting for? Breathe in gratitude, exhale tension.
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