What is Yin Yoga?

What is Yin Yoga?

If you’ve ever tried to book a yoga class online, you will probably have been gobsmacked by the number of different types of yoga available and found yourself in quite a pickle when choosing the right style for you. In our opinion, practising yoga is like having access to a health and wellbeing toolbox where you can dip in and out taking from it exactly what you need each day. This could be a boost in energy or a dose of relaxation. When choosing from the many types of yoga, you are faced with choices that include Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga, Hatha yoga and Yin yoga to name a few. So what exactly is Yin yoga and why should you give it a try?

It’s the Opposite of Yang Yoga

If you’ve dabbled here and there with yoga over the years, the chances are you’ve tried Yang yoga, the most traditional type of yoga which focusses on muscular strength and stamina. As the name suggests, Yin yoga is the total opposite of this. While Yang yoga is all about muscles, Yin yoga is all about organs and targets connective tissues throughout the body via slower paced movements and poses. In fact, it’s one of the most effective ways to improve flexibility and relieve tension.

The Health Benefits of Yin Yoga

Yin yoga comes with a whole host of physical and mental health benefits. This form of yoga is based on Taoist principles that the body is made up of various pathways and the movements and postures when held for a period of time can help you to free any energy related blockages that have occurred as well as help you to relax and lower your stress levels. It’s a meditative form of yoga that is designed to not only improves elasticity in your connective tissues but it also lowers your heart rate and boosts your circulation simultaneously.

How to Practise Yin Yoga

The great thing about Yin yoga is that you can practise it anytime, anywhere. Just put on your yoga pants and you are ready to go! The key concept is holding a pose for five minutes or more and you can use any of these poses as a starting point:

• Butterfly Pose
• Child’s Pose
• Frog Pose
• Toe Stretch
• Swan Pose

Yin yoga is a gentle practice and you can indulge in daily sessions and reap the benefits. While there is no fast paced poses or sequences, Yin yoga is one of the most challenging forms of yoga mentally as it is difficult to hold a pose for sometimes as long as 20 minutes. Luckily, there are many props you can use to make this simpler and you will be surprised at how quickly you progress with the help of bolsters, bricks and blankets. The zen like feeling you get afterwards is totally worth taking on the challenge.

Have you tried Yin yoga?

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