Finding Stillness in a Hectic Life - Reasons to Immerse Yourself in Yin Yoga Training.

Whether you teach yoga or you’re a seasoned practitioner, a Yin training can be a deeply enriching experience that giving you a lifelong resource to enhance your wellbeing and navigate the challenges of life. My latest blog explores reasons why it may be beneficial to undertake a yin yoga training course and the topics that are covered. 

I was first introduced to Yin Yoga in 2013 whilst doing my 200 hour teacher training. This made up a component of the course and I was hooked! I loved how relaxing it was. I felt like I’d grown by two inches, especially after engaging in classes that targeted the hips. As soon as I qualified, I started to teach weekly Yin Yoga classes, further consolidating my knowledge and experience of this style in 2019 by completing a 50 hour Yin Yoga Immersion with Dawn Wright.  By completing robust training in 2013 and 2019, I was able to confidently craft and teach authentic yin yoga classes in Glasgow. 

Since I first started teaching yin 11 years ago, this style of yoga has become increasingly popular. However, there are differences between this and more traditional forms of yoga which have their roots steeped in Indian philosophy. 

Yin is a modern style of yoga, brought to the West in the 1970's by martial arts expert Paulie Zink and later developed by yoga teachers Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. It has roots in traditional Indian teachings and Daoist culture. Yin works with different energy systems in the body from traditional styles such as Vinyasa and Iyengar. A Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)  approach is used and the anatomy is different, because we target ligaments, joints, bones and connective tissue. At my Glasgow Yin Yoga Training this September, we will explore the history of yin yoga, alongside the energy systems and anatomy. We’ll also discuss Yin Yang theory, something that we require a fundamental understanding of to teach and develop our personal practice of Yin. 

In my experience, when you attend a yin yoga class with a teacher who hasn’t had training around the use of props and yin postures, it's pretty obvious. Therefore, I'd actively encourage all teachers who are planning to add this to their repertoire to undertake training with someone who has the expertise in this method of teaching. 

With all of this in mind, you don't have to be a yoga teacher to complete yin yoga training. This can be a deeply immersive way to develop your knowledge and practice and understand the “why” behind it.  Whether you teach or not, you will learn how to develop class plans and sequences with a deep level of understanding about the anatomy of movements, their links to the seasons and corresponding energy channels (meridians) 

It means that you can confidently practice at home. A Yin Yoga Immersion is a financial commitment, but consider it as an investment in yourself as you will learn to sequence deeply relaxing and restful postures, work with props, calm your nervous system and reduce stress. The skills you learn will be lifelong.  You will also receive a comprehensive manual that you can refer back to.  In the longer term, this may be more financially economical than investing in a monthly, yoga studio membership over the duration of a year.

Yin Yoga is a deeply meditative practice and this is something that we’ll look at during my immersion. During our time together, we will spend a morning in nature doing a forest bath or nature walk. You will then write a guided meditation based on your experience in nature that you can use for your personal practice and share with friends and family. 

If you are a yoga teacher, you’ll receive 40 CPD hours, accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals. This is a wonderful way to add to your teacher tool kit, inspire creativity, expand your offerings and develop a niche. 

My 40 hour Yin Yoga Immersion is taking place at The Wellbeing Hub in Glasgow from 16th September to 20th September 2024. It consists of 34.5 contact hours and 5.5 non contact hours. The capacity is set to a maximum of 10 people, to ensure that you have a high level of support. My early bird offer is running until 20th of April. You can read more about the syllabus and book here.