Yin Yoga Rules. Five Reasons Why Yin Yoga Is For You (In particular if you are a power yogi!)
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Many yogis love the strength and flow of a power vinyasa class. The breath, the sweat, the movement and rinsing out physical and mental tension are all ingredients that bring us back to those classes, and often only to those classes. While power yoga in its various forms is widely known, yin yoga has been the quiet kid in the back of the room. This kid is growing up very fast and attracting a lot of die-hard fans for very good reasons. It can be a truly transformative practice and it complements other styles of yoga well. If you think of yourself as a power yogi only, the likelihood is that you in particular will need some in in your life. Read on as Lisa Hughes shares her top five reasons to practice yin. Here at Lumi we call these classes “Lumi Restore” and there is only one thing to say: do a class. You’ll love it.
Five Reasons Why Yin Yoga Is For You
By Lisa Hughes
As a lover of this nourishing practice, I could easily go on and list ten reasons why yin yoga rocks my world, but as you haven’t got all day, I will keep it short and sweet (just like me).
1. Yin creates stillness in body and mind
We all know life in a big city like London is busy, hectic, fast and sometimes downright crazy. With our never-ending to-do lists, career aspirations, family and social lives all competing for our attention, coupled with the constant onslaught of communication and technology, we are yearning for a way to slow down and switch off. Yin yoga offers exactly that. It is a gentle, slow and very still physical practice that gives you time to unwind and release both body and mind. As you hold the poses in stillness for extended lengths of time (typically 3 – 10 minutes) you learn to cultivate greater patience in an otherwise impatient world.
2. Yin will improve flexibility and mobility
If the idea of long holds is not appealing to you (after all, you want to strengthen, stretch and get your yoga fix), consider this – yin yoga will radically improve your power (or other) yoga practice. Yin yoga targets the deeper connective tissues (tendons, ligaments) and fascia that cover our entire bodies. These tissues need longer held passive stretches that quite literally create space and length around the joints – leaving our bodies to enjoy a greater freedom of movement. As you unravel and release muscles, open and wring out compressed fascia, you will float away on a Zen like cloud. And your warrior one will me much smoother too.
3. Yin is for everyone
Yin is an accessible and simple practice for people of all ages and abilities. You don’t even NEED a mat – just a bit of space, some carpet and you can even substitute props for thick books, cushions, blankets and belts. There are fewer poses in the yin sequence (maximum 30 in total), all the postures are grounded and the emphasis is on time rather than variety. No complicated balance postures to master, definitely not a drop of sweat in sight nor a single word of Sanskrit to comprehend. This is a practice that everyone can benefit from. Try it and see.
4. Yin regulates the flow of energy around our bodies – a bit like acupuncture
As we stretch the connective tissues and fascia that surround the joints, we access our energetic bodies. Our energy channels/meridians/nadis are located within this deep fascia and through practice of yin yoga, we stimulate and unblock any stagnant energy/chi that has accumulated. After exiting a pose we experience the ‘rebound’ as energy releases and begins to flow. A pleasurable feeling of calmness and clarity remains, a bit like an acupuncture session, but at a fraction of the price.
5. Yin embraces props – and lots of them
As yin yoga is a restful and relaxing practice, we use props (and lots of them) to allow the body to be fully supported. Bricks, blocks, bolsters and belts offer the opportunity to sink, soften and surrender. With this greater level of support we access our parasympathetic nervous system, where we can ‘rest and digest’, relax and restore.
