Y
oga is an Indian practice that has been around for thousands of years, but has exploded
into popularity throughout Australia especially in the past decade. There are many different types of yoga and I have experimented with many styles myself over the past seven years. It wasn’t until a few years ago, however, that I stumbled across yin yoga. Back then I was working full time
and studying part time, so had little energy and a brain on overdrive. I have to admit I really didn’t enjoy my first yin class. It was much slower than the other forms of yoga I had done previously, and I soon became impatient and frustrated at the lack of flow. But, committing to a second class, it wasn’t long until I was fully converted. Like so many of us, I lead a
predominantly ‘yang’ lifestyle, so I quickly realised the benefits that yin yoga had on my day-to-day life. Not only did it force me to slow down, it opened up space in my mind and body, offering me a deeper sense of clarity and peace. Soon yin became my main yoga
practice. When the opportunity arose to attend teacher training, it seemed like a great chance to further deepen my understanding and appreciation of this beautiful practice. Over a year later, I have seen how it has transformed the lives of many of my students as well. Here are some of the basic principles:
1Challenge
During a class students are
encouraged to make their way into a pose, working toward the body’s limitations, finding a position that I like to call ‘that place in between too much and not enough’. This not only challenges the body, but also the mind, as quite often it’s the mind tempting you to move into an easier, less demanding pose. As humans, we seek comfort, but it’s in that place of discomfort where we can begin to grow! So as I say, we should all try to find some comfort in the discomfort!
//LIKE SO MANY OF US, I LEAD A PREDOMINANTLY ‘YANG’ LIFESTYLE, SO I QUICKLY REALISED THE BENEFITS THAT YIN YOGA HAD ON MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. //
2Stillness Once you have found the best
pose for your body, then you find your stillness. In yin yoga poses are held for three to five minutes, requiring students to find a peace and acceptance in that discomfort. For so many, staying still is
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the hardest part of all. Super charged and rearing to go all the time, these days we are finding it harder and harder to switch off. Relaxing, disengaging, un-tensing, and turning off the muscles seems to be harder than many of us think. Many people actually don’t know how to unwind and will struggle to stop and just be. This is an invaluable skill we have to relearn.
3Simplicity Whilst staying in the pose may be
challenging, the fact that there are only a limited number of yin poses, most of which involve lying on a mat, makes this practice also very simple. Living in such a complex and complicated world, the simpler and stiller you can create your yin experience, the more beneficial it is. People are beginning to seek out this simplicity in place of some of the more dynamic yang-style yoga classes, in order to truly unwind and relax.
4Relaxation Encouraging students to slow
down and surrender is the main aim of a yin yoga class. It is in this state of complete relaxation that the length of time each pose is held is able to do all of the amazing work for you. Who would ever have thought that the more you relax, the more you get out of your practice? Don’t confuse stillness for relaxation, however, as they are two very separate states. You can be still, but tense and far from relaxed. Yin yoga works into the deep connective tissue,
MARCH | APRIL 2018 75
Melbourne Brisbane
Sunshine Coast
120687
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