Have you tried yin yoga? Do you know how it differs to restorative yoga? Read on to find out more.
Yin Yoga – the basics
Yin yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga that focuses on relaxing the body and mind through long-held postures. The postures are held for anywhere between three and ten minutes, which means you can deeply open the connective tissue, i.e. the ligaments, joints, bones and fascia. This is different to other more yang styles of yoga which hold postures for less time and therefore mainly focus on the muscles.
Yin is based on the Taoist concept of yin and yang principles, which are opposite but complementary to each other. While yang is changing and moving, yin is stable and still. In terms of the body, the muscles and blood are yang as they are able to move around, whereas the stiffer connective tissue is yin. That is why yin yoga allows you to get deep into the connective tissue.
When you stretch connective tissue gently and over a long period of time, it responds well. Therefore, when you hold postures for three minutes or more and put stress on the tissue, the body responds by making it longer and stronger. You have to relax the muscles around the tissues in order to stretch it, hence the long holds.
Yin yoga – the benefits
The practice of yin yoga offers multiple benefits both physically and emotionally. It is also great for mental resilience and endurance because you are staying in an area of discomfort for a long period of time. Yin can be a very confronting practice as the long-hold postures give you time and space to turn inward, allowing you to tune into both your mind and the physical sensations in your body. It is also a very meditative practice and teaches you to breathe through discomfort while sitting with your thoughts.
Other benefits include:
- Improved flexibility
- Reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances
- Calmer mind and body
- Better circulation
- Improved joint mobility and release of fascia
- Connection with the breath
- Improved energy flow
Yin yoga at LANO
At LANO, we offer yin during our Slow classes, which take place every Sunday. The Slow classes also include restorative postures so you can choose whether to opt for the slightly gentler version of the pose. Often, you can use props such as bolsters, blankets and blocks to do this.
Our Slow teachers are Nicky and Nathalie. Nicky teaches at LANO Chichester at 6pm on Sundays and Nathalie teaches at LANO Southsea, also at 6pm on Sundays.
If you haven’t tried yin yoga, we suggest you give it a try. It is a hugely beneficial and holistic practice that helps everyone, especially those who need to let go of any stress and tension in the body and mind.
Click here to book your class.
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