Half saddel pose
What is Yinyoga?
At the same time that Yang Yoga exercises like Vinyasa, Ashtanga yoga, physically focus on the "superficial" muscles, in Yin Yoga we focus on the deep connective tissues of the body: the ligaments, joints, legs and deep fascia networks. .
Generally a Yin class consists of a series of passive positions on the floor that are held for up to 5 minutes or more. These positions focus mainly on the lower body: pelvis, hips, inner thighs, lower spine, which are specially rich in connective tissue. Yin yoga improves the flow of energy as well as it increases the flow of chi in our body organs, this is only on the energetic level. But the practice of Yin yoga also offers a huge of mental and emotional benefits, which we will discover soon.
Who can practice Yin yoga?
Anybody can practice Yin yoga, specially if you are tired and craving energy or if you are overstimulated and have too much energy.
Our world bombards us with stimuli, 24/7, which keep our senses constantly busy processing all the information that is thrown at us. It doesn't matter if the information is valuable or junk; the mind has the need to deal with all of it. Sooner or later we get used to that level of stimulus and begin longing for it if it gets quiet. We end up surfing on the internet and looking for more information, it does not matter what, as long as it fills our gaps.
Every form of dynamic yoga keep us busy. Even if the mind can calm down as a result of active training, we still feed the part of us that longs for excitement and want to be stimulated. Luckily we just happen to have found a healthier stimulus! I am not encouraging to eliminate the dynamic yoga, just try to balance all aspects of your life and a good way to do this is by practicing Yinyoga.
Yin yoga and the mind
Get quietly into a position and continue for a while, creating the gaps that were mentioned earlier. Try to keep the gaps empty to create space for anything that wants to show up, which could be sadness, resentment, boredom, happiness, anxiety, any feeling or emotion that you contain with all the effort. Yinyoga gives you time and space to let feelings, thoughts and emotions that you have held in the shadows come to the surface.
Generally, during a Yinyoga class, you will be encouraged to allow all of these emotions to be there, but not to analyze them. To pay attention to but not to get caught up in them. To keep things suppressed costs the body a lot of energy, so the release you feel from letting everything come out can be just as great.
These stories are usually related to why we feel so and so, whose fault it is, and so on. Just paying attention to the physical sensations, without giving power to the stories, allows these emotions and physical sensations to get out of your system. This helps you to clear your mind of these often unconscious thoughts and emotions, at the sam time you are giving your system an opportunity to work through the blockages that these emotions have caused in your body. Isn't that wonderful?
Accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be. - Sonia ricotti
Yin yoga and the body Yin yoga acts on the yin tissues, also called connective tissues. The connective tissues responds better to a slow and constant load, that is why we hold the postures for longer time. If you gently stretch the connective tissues by holding a yin position for a long time in, the body will react by making it a bit longer and stronger, which is exactly what you want. The differents Yin yoga postures stimulate and eliminate blockages in the myofascial meridians of the body, which in turn balances the internal organs and systems of the body. To practice Yin yoga the muscles around the connective tissues need to be relaxed around in order to stretch. It is important to know that not all yoga positions can be done safely or effectively when practicing Yin yoga. Therefore, Yin asanas have different names.
Butterfly
For instance, Baddha Konasana (Bound Angle Pose) in a Yang yoga class involves stretching the spine, the muscles of the pelvis, and the abdomen, as well as the legs to bend the torso towards the legs. But in the Yin version, known as Butterfly (in the photo), the muscles are relaxed and the spine rounds naturally so that the head comes toward the knees while the body let go. Tips for practicing Yin yoga:
Find your suitable edge in the position: move slowly and carefully into the position. Do not go directly to your "maximum" in the position and never stretch so that it cause you pain. As soon as there is a resistance (a feeling of stinginess), you will find your first limit.
Tranquility: Try to be mindful into the pose, relax, without getting disturbed or changing positions.
Maintain the position: Begin maintaining a position for 1-3 minutes and continue with 5 minutes or more.
What are you waiting for? Start now!
Roll out your yogamat and try some Yin yoga💛
With love,
Rhoely
Do you want to know more about Yin Yoga and want to practice Yin yoga make an appointment? You can either call me +46 705875841 or email me rhr@holisticwellness.nu. or just book a time by clicking this link.
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