Yin yoga is a modern synthesis of Tao Yin and hatha yoga developed by Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. On a physical level, Yin Yoga helps to increase the suppleness in the joints within our natural range of motion. While staying in the positions, we apply gentle pressure on the joints and relax the muscles around them. This way we affect the deep connective tissues and initiate the natural repair mechanism of the body.

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In Yin Yoga, floor postures are held for a long duration (3-5 minutes).

Energetically, Yin Yoga helps opening the body’s meridian system. It increases our vitality and harmonizes the energetic activity of the body. It helps to remove energetic blockages and leads to a better absorption of chi. Since energy blockages affect our emotions, and vice versa, this practice is also very beneficial to harmonize disturbing emotions and reach emotional equilibrium. It develops our emotional intelligence and creates a space of allowance in which we experience all our emotions.

The Yin practice also sets up the conditions to investigate ourselves. Each pose can be viewed as an opportunity for meditation. We learn to see our resistance and not to be our resistance. We cultivate awareness and learn how to be there in a given moment, and this mindfulness will slowly infuse our activities off the mat as well.

Yin Yoga is an excellent complementary practice to more vigorous styles of yoga. In general, classes begin with a short slow-flow practice before settling into the floor postures.