Yin Yoga - A Great Complement to Other Forms of Exercise

Yin Yoga is a great complement to other styles of yoga, such as Vinyasa and Hatha, as well as other forms of exercise. Exercise creates heat in the body, thereby targeting and opening the larger muscle groups; Yin Yoga, however, focuses on stillness, and targets the deeper connective tissues of the body (joints, ligaments, and fascia), as well as the energetic channels and centers.

About Yin Yoga

History

It’s a fairly new style of yoga, about 30 years old, yet it’s rooted in ancient Chinese and Indian cultures. Both cultures believe in a system of energies that travel through pathways and centers in the body. In China, this energy or life force is called Chi (or Qi), and in India’s it’s called Prana.

Benefits

The benefits of Yin Yoga include improved joint health and range of motion when practiced over a period of time, improved health and elasticity of our tissues, a connection between our physical body to our mental and emotional bodies, and improved overall health and well-being.

Exercise and other physical activities (running around doing errands, dropping kids off, rushing to work) can take a toll on our bodies both physically and mentally. Also, as we age, our joints and connective tissue tighten and lose elasticity. Yin Yoga targets our tissues and joints to reduce tightness and bring more fluidity to our bodies. 

So, if you’re an athlete, an overly active person, or an aging person looking to reduce stress, improve the deeper connective tissues of the body, and connect to the energetic pathways and centers, give Yin Yoga a try.

What to Expect

In a Yin Yoga class, we hold poses for extended periods (3-5 minutes or more) to target connective tissues and increase flexibility. We use our body’s weight and gravity to get into these deeper levels of the body to affect the connective tissues as well as the energetic centers and pathways. There are no standing poses; we stay close to the ground.

Class

Class is held on Tuesdays from 6-7pm MT on Zoom beginning Tuesday, October 7. Although Yin Yoga can be done any time of the day, this class will be a great way to end your busy day, so you can relax into your evening routine. To support you in Yin Yoga, you’ll need some props, such as 1 bolster, 2 blocks, 2 blankets or more, and an eye pillow (you can use a pillow for a bolster, books for blocks, and towels for blankets).

Hope to see you there.