Yin-ing at Life

Why Yin Yoga is Good for Us

Have you ever tried yin yoga? Or have you heard about it, but not quite understood why people who practice it are so dedicated? Here's a quick study on why yin yoga is for everyone!

 

WHAT IS YIN YOGA?

Yin yoga is a slow, mindful practice that looks to target our joint space, fascia, and connective tissue instead of the muscles. Yin yoga uses less poses and longer holds to get deeper into the body and to help reset areas of the body used to bad habits (think bad posture, always seated, tight lower back, stiff knees and shoulders). This practice uses the healthy, mild to moderate stress of the poses over longer periods of time to produce results.

 

The 3 major tenants of our yin yoga practice are:

1. Come in an appropriate depth

2. Resolve to remain still (in body, breath and mind)

3. Hold for time (1-10 minutes depending on the pose)

Yin yoga is different than restorative yoga in that it wants you to feel sensation. Yin yoga asks you to go safely to your edge in a pose, and then breathe into what arises. These sensations give us information about our body, and staying safely at the edge lets us begin to ease bad movement patterns and create more space in the body over time.

Yin yoga is slow, and you might only do a few poses in an hour class--remember time and staying still are the magic elements of the practice!

WHY YIN YOGA?

So now you know what yin yoga is, why do we do it (and love it!)? Yin yoga has many benefits, so here are just a few:

  • Reduces joint stiffness and increases joint mobility

  • Loosens fascia and connective tissues, which over time allows us better quality of muscle contractions and better use of our muscles

  • Stimulates the relaxation response in our body and helps us tap into the parasympathetic nervous system

  • Improves flow of chi and prana along the meridians in our body (think energy)

  • Increases circulation and blood flow

  • Improves tissue quality (its like a gentle massage for your tissues)

  • Improve resilience towards stress

  • Supports the immune system and healing response

  • Helps reduce stress and anxiety

  • Cultivates a sense of gratitude for our body and makes us slow down

  • Creates a sense of balance to our busy lives

 

If you haven't tried yin yoga yet, grab your mat (and a friend too!), and join us for a class. Our BE ZEN is a traditional yin class, and we have it on the schedule 4 times a week (Wed 8:30a, Thurs 6:45p, Sat 9:15a, and Sunday 4:15p). We'd love to introduce you to yin or help you explore the practice more if it is already a part of your routine. Wear comfy clothes, prepare yourself for a slow-moving and mindful practice, and get ready to influence your whole life! :)

The Studio BE