If you’re feeling the impact of more than a year of managing extreme stress levels, you aren’t alone. These days, we’re all working to establish a sense of equanimity. Life is about finding the balance between opposing forces that exist outside and inside of us. Yoga is a fluid dance between strength and softness, and yin and yang.
Yin and Yang are opposites and they complement each other perfectly. This week, shift your focus to Yin yoga and give your mind the quiet time it needs and recharge your batteries. When we take the time to nourish ourselves, we renew our energy and become the strongest versions of ourselves.
If you’re new to Yin yoga, you may not be familiar with all its wonderful benefits. A Yin practice targets the deeper layers in the body, specifically the connective tissue––fascia, tendons, and ligaments and the internal organs. Yin is based upon three main principles:
The emphasis on longer holds in a posture encourages us to focus on directing the attention of our thoughts where we want them to go and cultivate greater discipline and mental focus. There is a meditative aspect to Yin yoga and the focus on breathing and shifting your awareness inside helps you discover the state of “being yoga” as opposed to “doing yoga.”
Physically, Yin yoga helps increase circulation to the connective tissue where there is less blood flow than in the muscles, which in turns works as a myofascial release. Yin often is themed around balancing the internal organs, like the kidney meridians and the adrenal glands. An emphasis on staying still in uncomfortable positions aids in quieting your nervous system and allowing you to relax.
The slow pace and often stable holds encourage you to let go of whatever emotions or thoughts making you feel heavy or stagnant. Although a sweaty Vinyasa or Power yoga class helps your system to flow and wake up, the passive nature of Yin yoga can often result in deeper releases. Those emotions that may be buried deep have the opportunity to arise and depart, resulting in a profound sense of freedom.
Yin energy is quiet and stable. Yang is intense and active. By spending time addressing both the elements of moon and sun, night and day, and dark and light, we can keep our body, mind, and heart healthy.
Challenge yourself to slow down this week and renew yourself through a quiet passive practice. Try one or all of these fabulous classes created by YogaDownload Yin expert instructors today.
Caitlin Rose Kenney - Yin Yoga 101
Kylie Larson - Yummy Yin: Hips & Heart
Erin Wimert - Bedtime Yin with Body Scan
Eric Paskel - Yin on the Rocks: Live!