Yin Yoga is a different style of yoga, concentrating on target areas to stress, stretch and rest. It works in a functioning way of organic alignment rather than what someone should look like aesthetically in a pose. In Yin Yoga we allow the pose to master us, rather than us master the pose!
Yin Yoga is not restorative yoga, although there are elements of relaxation, stillness and static asana's (postures). It is still a dynamic practice, being intense at times. It allows one to really go within, creating stillness and acceptance for whatever comes up, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Yin Yoga works by stressing the fascia (connective tissues) of the body, the muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments and even bone! When we stress the tissues of the body in a yin way (slowely and safely) we regenerate all these tissues, creating more flexibility and mobility, allowing the chi (energy) to flow more freely within the fascia and along the meridian lines (energy pathways), leading to better health within our internal organs, increasing needed fluids (synovial and hyrolonic acid), which start naturally decreasing from the age of 25!
During this very specific style, we mindfully focus on the breath, by relaxing each inhale and slowly lengthening each exhale, neurotransmitter messages are sent to the parasympathetic nervous system to activate, creating wonderfully calm feelings.......yin yoga is a wonderful compliment to more yang styles such as ashtanga or vinyasa, is wonderful for people with hectic lives who just want some time out for themselves to de-stress, and for people with physical reason who want a body which is easier to work with!
If you havent already.......its never too late to start your yin yoga practice!
