What is Yin Yoga?

Jensen Ong, Lead Teacher at The Be.Live Practice explains -

"It is a more meditative approach with a physical focus much deeper than other more common forms of yoga such as Vinyasa, Hatha or Hot Yoga. Yin Yoga works on the deeper tissues such as the connective tissue and fascia. Many of the Yin Yoga poses focus on areas that encompass a joint (hips, sacrum, spine). Research shows that our flexibility in the joints decreases when we enter into our 30s and 40s. Yin Yoga is a wonderful way to maintain that flexibility. Yin Yoga also targets the body meridians and focuses on stimulating our ‘Qi’ (life force energy). Regular practice can help balance internal organs and remove blockages in our body meridians."

Yin Yoga revitalizes the tissues of the body

Our body’s tissues can be revived by a good long soak the same way that an old, stiff sponge can. A Yin Yoga practice can leave you feeling as though you’ve had a good massage.

We become more resilient from stress

Holding a pose for several minutes can provoke anxiety. But when we approach it with tenderness, the body acclimates. Surrender is a common theme in Yin Yoga and and giving up the need to control a situation is a lesson that we can carry with us into our day-to-day lives.

Yin Yoga can help us tap into the parasympathetic nervous system

Diaphragmatic breathing is a powerful way to trigger the parasympathetic nervous system. Activating the parasympathetic nervous system is beneficial to manage stress, tension, blood pressure, sleep, digestion, immune function, hormones, etc.

Instead, we spend our days locked in sympathetic nervous system overdrive, constantly being pulled from one overly important deadline to another. Yin Yoga slows our breath down significantly, drawing us deeper into this parasympathetic (relaxation) mode.

Yin Yoga cultivates gratitude for the body

The simplicity of a Yin Yoga practice allows us to tune into our inner workings, connecting to respiratory and circulatory functions, internal organs, and sensations within the muscles and joints.

Yin Yoga forces us to slow down

Yin Yoga poses' long holds offer a chance to marinate in stillness. When you allow yourself to stay present - deadlines, commitments, pressing matters, and to-do lists fade to the background, leaving tremendous space for rest and renewal.

Yin Yoga cultivates balance

Many of us live very active (‘yang’) lifestyles and leave little or no time to foster the quiet, introspective side. Over time this can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Through the Yin Yoga practice, we can restore equilibrium and feel whole.