What is Yin Yoga?
Yin yoga focuses on gentle & passive poses. This doesn’t mean that Yin yoga can’t be challenging due to the long duration of the poses.
Yin Yoga postures are in fact a selection of some Hatha yoga asanas but in Yin the postures are named differently. Yin yoga targets the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, and joints of the hips, pelvis and lower spine that normally are not exercised very much in a more active style of asana practice like Vinyasa.
Yin Yoga is not intended as a complete practice in itself, it was developed as a supplement to yang forms of exercise. -Paul Grilley
How does a class go?
Yin yoga classes offer a selection of yin asanas and no two classes are ever alike. Yin yoga classes could be from 60 to 90 minutes. And these are the elements of a complete class:
- theme of the class – target area to work
- breathing exercise
- each asana is held for 3, 5 and up to 10 minutes and targets specific tissues of the body depending on the theme
- gently movement from one posture to the next
- self exploration: becoming an observer
- savasana (relaxation)
Do I need special props?
Yes, the use of props is highly recommended to stay in a pose for long time. You don’t need to invest in special props as almost everything you will need for a Yin session can be found at home like: blankets or towels, pillows, blocks that can be substituted by books and a wall.
Who can practice Yin yoga?
Anyone can practice! And it is highly recommended as a complement of any other dynamic Yoga style.
Important: Yin Yoga is not restorative yoga, and like any other yoga practice, if you are suffering from a tear or any other tissue is damaged in some way, give yourself a time to heal and recover before practicing Yin or any other Yoga style.
