It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the holidays are one of the busiest times of the year! Despite our best intentions to maintain our healthy routines and remain balanced and grounded, we often find ourselves feeling stressed out. If you usually practice active, flowing styles of yoga, it might be the perfect time to slow down and focus more on Yin yoga to tide you over to 2024.
Yin yoga is a quieter style of yoga that soothes your nerves and relaxes your fascia, tendons, and ligaments. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced yogi, you can adapt Yin yoga to your individual abilities and needs. These classes advocate taking your time finding your edge in each posture, so you can work within your range of motion.
Yin consists of three primary principles or tattvas:
One: Find your edge or appropriate depth for you in the posture.
Two: Settle into stillness.
Three: Hold the posture for time, usually one to five minutes.
Although a Yin class contains only a handful of postures, don’t assume that it’s easy. Sometimes, holding poses for several minutes, especially ones like Sleeping Swan (Half-Pigeon in Yang yoga) or Dragon (Runner’s Lunge), is more challenging than flowing through a series. The focus on Pranayama (breath work) to stay calm and manage the emotions that arise when we remain still is a key element in Yin.
Yin yoga targets the deeper connective tissues in your body and encourages better blood flow to the joints and nourishes your kidneys, adrenals, and internal organs. Slowing down helps you create a calmness and softness inside. The holidays can bring up a myriad of emotions––positive ones and not-so-positive ones––depending on your personal situation. However you’re feeling, Yin can help you process your emotions and ensure they don’t remain stuck in your physical body.
This week’s classes emphasize slowing down in order to feel your best. Check out these fabulous practices from top YogaDownload instructors and see how good you feel!
Yin Yoga: Hips & Lower Back - Caitlin Rose Kenney
Let it Go: Yin + Sound Bowl Savasana - Elizabeth Brumfield
Yin Yoga - Finding Your Center - Kylie Larson
Yin on the Rocks Live! - Eric Paskel