What is Yin Yoga?
Yang yoga is the Yoga we hear most about. The Western version of Yoga – aimed at strengthening and stretching our muscles, often through a sweaty, active practice.
Yang is dynamic and aims to work our Yang muscular tissues.
On the other hand, Yin Yoga is a less active, deeper stretch of our Yin tissues, which are our ligaments, joints, deep fascial networks and even our bones.
Many people describe the perfect balance to the body as being a Yoga practice which includes both a Yang and a Yin practice, reflecting the nature of life. For many of us, there is more of a Yang element than a Yin element in our lives. Yin is yielding, allowing and nurturing. Even within a very Yang Yoga practice or lifestyle, we can adopt a yin awareness and acceptance that will help us gain contentment in our lives.
Yin Yoga has the same goals and objectives as any other school of yoga and it is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular (yang) styles of yoga that emphasize internal heat, and the lengthening and contracting of our muscles. Yin Yoga generally targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine.
While initially this style of yoga can seem quite boring, passive, or soft, yin practice can be quite challenging due to the long duration of the poses. We can remain in the postures anywhere from one to twenty minutes! You need to experience this to really know what Yin Yoga is all about.
Please note: Yin Yoga is not restorative yoga. Like all yoga practices, if the tissues you are targeting for exercise are damaged in some way, please give yourself a chance to heal before resuming your regular practice.
Yang yoga is the Yoga we hear most about. The Western version of Yoga – aimed at strengthening and stretching our muscles, often through a sweaty, active practice.
Yang is dynamic and aims to work our Yang muscular tissues.
On the other hand, Yin Yoga is a less active, deeper stretch of our Yin tissues, which are our ligaments, joints, deep fascial networks and even our bones.
Many people describe the perfect balance to the body as being a Yoga practice which includes both a Yang and a Yin practice, reflecting the nature of life. For many of us, there is more of a Yang element than a Yin element in our lives. Yin is yielding, allowing and nurturing. Even within a very Yang Yoga practice or lifestyle, we can adopt a yin awareness and acceptance that will help us gain contentment in our lives.
Yin Yoga has the same goals and objectives as any other school of yoga and it is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular (yang) styles of yoga that emphasize internal heat, and the lengthening and contracting of our muscles. Yin Yoga generally targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine.
While initially this style of yoga can seem quite boring, passive, or soft, yin practice can be quite challenging due to the long duration of the poses. We can remain in the postures anywhere from one to twenty minutes! You need to experience this to really know what Yin Yoga is all about.
Please note: Yin Yoga is not restorative yoga. Like all yoga practices, if the tissues you are targeting for exercise are damaged in some way, please give yourself a chance to heal before resuming your regular practice.