Yin Yoga - The Art of Letting Go
“In a world filled with constant movement and noise, finding moments of tranquility and stillness can be a precious gift. If you're seeking a yoga practice that helps you slow down, release tension, and embrace serenity, then Yin Yoga might be the answer. In this blog post, we'll explore the soothing practice of Yin Yoga and its many benefits.”
My experience of Yin Yoga is about finding stillness in a hectic life. It’s about being present in my body and mind and just being with my breath. Yin Yoga is a beautiful, mindful practice and it is the art of letting go. The words “yin” and “yoga” come from Daoist tradition. The 3,000 year old term yin and its partner yang are still being used today, offering us ways to explore change and living a balanced life
In terms of movement based activities, Yang relates to creating heat in your body, whereas Yin is about finding stillness and cooling. To remain in optimal condition, it’s important to have balance across both of these.
Running and cycling are yang activities. More dynamic styles of yoga, such as hot yoga and vinyasa flow are also considered to be yang. Because yang energy is hot and dry, we can burn ourselves out if we do too much yang movement. This is why yin yoga is hugely complementary to any yang activities.
Yin yoga is practiced mostly on the floor and targets connective tissue, ligaments and joints, in areas such as the shoulders, hips, pelvis, inner thighs and lower back. It gives the body the wonderful opportunity to open, release and let go. This is because a gentle stress is being placed on the connective tissue, fascia and bones. The slow release of this load causes connective tissue to very slowly stretch.
The suggested length of time that postures are held for is longer than 1 minute and less than 20 minutes. Beginners can hold for shorter periods than more experienced practitioners. It is important to note that some postures may feel more sustainable than others, for example toe squat can be very uncomfortable for some people and may only be held for a minimal amount of time. Other postures such as caterpillar with a bolster under the knees or across the lap may feel more relaxing and can therefore be held for longer periods.
When I am practicing, I give consideration to emotions that come up as I hold the postures. . What is triggering the emotion? Sometimes it can be physical discomfort in my hips. I can then explore how I am holding my jaw and whether I am gripping onto my hips. If I soften my jaw, do my hips soften? Can I adjust my body or use a prop to sustain the posture? This gentle line of enquiry helps me come to a place of peace in my practice and gently breathe through sensations even when they are not so pleasant
I have been teaching yin yoga classes in Glasgow since 2013. During sessions, I give guidance to yoga students on how to observe the breath and use this as a way to focus on the present moment, allowing thoughts and feelings to arise, but practising the art of sitting with them and observing, without getting “involved” before letting them fade away. This helps to reduce the chatter of the mind and reduce negative thoughts. My intention is to help yoga students to develop mindfulness skills that can be transferred from the mat to everyday life.
I currently host weekly Yin Yoga classes at the Wellbeing Hub, on Tuesday evenings from 7.45pm-8.45pm. During the darker part of the year, we practice candlelit yin, to create a relaxing and ambient atmosphere.
