![]() ![]() The long periods of time in (mildly) uncomfortable positions asks you to learn to accept what is in that given moment. This in and of itself is one of the hardest parts of Yin Yoga for many people- to stop, slow down and simply be with themselves without distraction. To practice Yin is to relinquish control, which is a novel and therapeutic concept in our modern-day lives. Here, the consistent chatter of the mind can fade away, opening a space to simply be. While holding the Yin poses, you are asked to observe the breath and use this as a way to focus on the present moment, allowing thoughts and feelings to arise but to let them go rather than attach to them. The practice allows the body to drop down into the parasympathetic nervous system, offering a grounding, calming and revitalising practice, with profound energetic and emotional effects. While Yin Yoga is amazing for the physical body, many of its greatest benefits stem from its remarkable effects on the mind and emotions. How Does Yin Yoga Work on an Emotional and Mental Level? This helps improve blood circulation to muscle and connective tissues and enhance lymph movement. Opening your fascia through Yin Yoga boosts your range of motion and flexibility, while also helping to strengthen your muscles and maintain their length. Your fascia requires at least 120 seconds of continued pressure to exhibit change. Yin Yoga has the ability to change this connective tissue, promote relaxation and restore fascial fluidity. Ageing and lifestyle choices can cause the fascia to become dehydrated, stiff and weak. It’s a structure that organises us into a shape that functions and moves through life. To keep fascia healthy and springy, we need to keep it hydrated and we need to subject it to gentle pressure.įascia is the framework of our form. The muscles of the human body are encased in fascia, which is a continuous web of tissue that weaves in and around not only our muscles but also our organs, nerves and lymph. Fascia is key to understanding the benefits of Yin Yoga. But if you are able to tune in, you will encounter some pretty fascinating events occurring in the layers beneath the skin. On the surface, the yin practice might appear rather uneventful. How Does Yin Yoga Work on a Physical Level? We need both the yin and the yang to find balance and stay in optimal health throughout every stage of our lifespan. Yin is about finding stillness and cooling the body. While yang relates to movement and creating heat in the body. ![]() The term “yin yoga” comes from the Taoist tradition. The goal is to access the deeper tissues of the body, such as connective tissue and fascia, and many of the postures focus on areas that encompass a joint such as the hips, sacrum, spine. The key to practicing Yin Yoga is finding stillness in each position. The time spent in these postures is much like time spent in meditation, as the mind shifts from yang to yin, or from active to passive. It is not uncommon for postures to be held for three to five minutes, even 10 minutes at a time. Yin Yoga is unique in that you are asked to relax into the posture, allowing the body to soften and release naturally without pushing or straining. ![]() There are no sun salutations, no planks, no warriors, no jump throughs! There is in fact no dynamic movement and usually no standing poses at all. Yin postures are more passive postures, mainly done on the floor either seated or lying down. Yin Yoga is a slow-paced, therapeutic style of yoga. Yin yoga is a simple, quiet practice, but make no mistake, it is not always an easy or comfortable one! Yin Yoga has the power to take you beyond your regular comfort zone, however, this is where much of the benefit and magic lies. In addition, these original postures were quite yin-like in style, designed to help promote meditation and long periods of pranayama and sitting. The concept of Yin Yoga has been around for thousands of years and some of the oldest yogic texts note only sixteen postures, which is far less than the millions of postures practiced in a yoga class today. While Yin Yoga is suitable for everyone, it is a particularly wonderful practice for women, with benefits ranging from lowering stress levels, to balancing hormones, to promoting self care, self love and a deeper connection and appreciation for oneself. With day to day life already very active, often stressful and always on-the-go, it makes sense that Yin Yoga has now stepped up to the yogi plate, offering the opportunity to enjoy a more relaxed, rejuvenating, grounding practice that has tremendous benefits for body, mind and soul. Up until now, the popularity of yoga has been focused towards the more active, robust and energetic styles and classes. One of the more recent styles of yoga to step into the spotlight is Yin Yoga. There is no denying that yoga has exploded into the west in recent years. ![]()
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