Yin Yoga offers a slow-paced, meditative style of yoga with postures held for longer periods of time for 3 to 5 minutes in order to improve flexibility by releasing the connective tissues of the body including the tendons, fascia, and ligaments, even joints of the bones generally in the hips, pelvis and lower spine. At the same time there is an emphasis on relaxing the muscular tissue.
Yin can be challenging owing to holding the postures for long periods. The perfect complement to dynamic (Yang) forms of yoga. Yin aims to unblock meridian channels to encourage energy/chi/prana to flow cultivating harmony and peace, a deeper sense of balance and feelings of calmness and a sense of well-being.as well as organ health. Yin offers a deep release and sense of letting go and brings us into balance when we are out of balance, restoring our Yin and Yang.
Restorative Poses (different to Yin poses offer nourishment, healing and support and we use the bolsters, blocks, blankets and belts to provide the support we need to provide complete relaxation.
We mix the two styles and I offer options and choices so that you can decide how your practice will unfold and make your own choices that Yinspire and support you.
To finish, a long Yoga Nidra, one of the deepest of all mediations. An effortless relaxation. Yoga Nidra is the prefect end to this Yin Yoga deep releasing and letting go sequence relaxation, bringing incredible calmness, quietness, clarity and deep relaxation. Relaxation does not mean sleep. Relaxation means to be blissfully happy; it has no end. I call bliss absolute relaxation; sleep is a different matter. Sleep gives only mind and sense relaxation. Bliss relaxes the ātma, the inner self; that is why, in tantra, Yoga Nidra is the doorway to Samādhi.” – Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Yoga Nidra, pub. Bihar School of Yoga, 1976.
