I don’t teach Yin Yoga, but I certainly end up practicing in a Yin style quite often. The hallmark of a Yin Yoga practice is that you hold postures longer than you might otherwise, for 3-5 minutes on average. This feels Looooonng if you’re not used to it, but it is a great challenge for us vinyasa yogis who are used to flowing through postures more quickly. I just did a lovely Yin practice today (so nice on a Friday afternoon!), and it’s inspired me to write a bit about it.

 

Here is some more information about why Yin Yoga may be helpful, from the June ’07 issue of Yoga Journal:

 

“On a physical level, Yin enhances the natural range of motion in the joints. By keeping your muscles soft, you release deep layers of connective tissue, creating more ease in any style of yoga and in seated meditation. On an energetic level, Yin enhances the flow of prana (life force) in the tissues around the joints, where energy often stagnates.”

I often start or end my practice with some Yin postures. You can also do a completely Yin practice, with no active flowing postures.

 

My introduction to Yin Yoga came years ago, with Paul Grilley’s book Yin Yoga . You can read an article he wrote about Yin Yoga here.

 

Here’s one of my favorite Yin Yoga postures, one of the few I actually teach. It’s called Saddle Pose and you can see it demonstrated here.

 

I use this frequently if I’ve just taught a sequence of hamstring lengthening postures because Saddle Pose emphasizes lengthening the opposing muscle group, the quadriceps. I also teach this posture in my new mom’s class. It’s very helpful in the postpartum period to help the pelvis realign in general, and the tailbone specifically to move back into place. Moms love this posture.

 

If you try to practice this posture, start by leaning back on the hands. From there, move down to rest on your elbows, and only if that feels good should you try the full posture as pictured. Be mindful of your knees and ankles if you have particular sensitivities in those joints.

 

Lastly, you might consider finding a teacher who knows the principles behind Yin Yoga. For local Boston folks, consider attending Jenn Goodman’s upcoming workshop at my favorite studio, Black Lotus. The workshop is in October (I have a Pranayama workshop in November and an Arm Balances workshop in December as well).

 

You might also check out my friend and former teaching colleague Biff Mithoefer. He has a book, the Yin Yoga Kit, and teaches some occasional workshops.

 

Enjoy your practice!

Barrett