Most of us are familiar with the ancient Chinese concept of yin and yang - two opposing forces in harmony and balance. Yang symbolizes the masculine principle and qualities such as movement, heat and activity. Conversely, the feminine principle of yin represents stillness, coolness, passivity and simply "being".
All things in life, including yoga or other forms of exercise, can be classed as yin or yang according to their basic qualities. There are styles of yoga (Bikram or Ashtanga for example) that are more yang-like, with their emphasis on strength and heat-building, dynamic poses. Yin yoga however, is totally different, with an emphasis on longer-held poses primarily done on the floor and the cultivation of mindfulness and surrender. I have experienced yin yoga to be a truly life-changing practice, here are 5 reasons to give it a go:
1. It will enable you to deal with the stresses of everyday life.
Western culture places a lot of value on yang-like qualities such as productivity, working hard and achieving external success. This can certainly help us to achieve our goals - but when out of balance it can lead to burn out, restlessness, anxiety and depression. We must remember to honour yin qualities as well, such as the ability to slow down, take it easy and enjoy what we have in the present. One way to counter-balance our chronic addiction to being busy, it to practice yin yoga.
2. It will dissolve chronic tension stored in your body.
Sitting at desks for too long, too much driving, lack of exercise or even too much exercise can cause stress and tension in the body. These knots of contraction occur in the fascia, and yin yoga works directly on the fascia of the lower body to deeply release any built-up tightness. Fascia is connected in one long sheath, and simply by working on a few areas where the fascia is dense (such as the lower back and hips), allows it to start to loosen up all over.
3. It will shift you from "doing" mode to "being mode".
Every "asana" or posture in yin yoga is held from 3 to 8 minutes, which is a significant period of time dedicated to being still and aware of the breath. This can feel difficult if you are not accustomed to "doing nothing", but over time you will be able to simply surrender and just "be", and your body and mind will be able to relax deeply. It is a good segue into traditional forms of seated meditation also.
4. It will complement your other workouts.
Running, swimming, sports and working out at the gym are all "yang" forms of movement due to their repetitive, forceful nature. While very important for strength and fitness, they can also lead to joint wear and tear, injury and habitual tightness in specific areas of the body. Yin yoga can deeply stretch tight areas and reduce the risk of injury as well as help to cultivate an awareness and acceptance of the body's natural limitations.
5. It will improve your attitude to life and make you a calmer person.
Perhaps the most powerful benefits of yin yoga is the way it will slowly change your attitude to your life in general. You will develop qualities of patience, acceptance and compassion towards your body within the poses, and these same qualities will show up in your daily life as well. From becoming more tolerant to people who ordinarily frustrate you to taking better care of yourself and being able to live more in the moment, yin yoga will slowly change your life from the inside out.
All things in life, including yoga or other forms of exercise, can be classed as yin or yang according to their basic qualities. There are styles of yoga (Bikram or Ashtanga for example) that are more yang-like, with their emphasis on strength and heat-building, dynamic poses. Yin yoga however, is totally different, with an emphasis on longer-held poses primarily done on the floor and the cultivation of mindfulness and surrender. I have experienced yin yoga to be a truly life-changing practice, here are 5 reasons to give it a go:
1. It will enable you to deal with the stresses of everyday life.
Western culture places a lot of value on yang-like qualities such as productivity, working hard and achieving external success. This can certainly help us to achieve our goals - but when out of balance it can lead to burn out, restlessness, anxiety and depression. We must remember to honour yin qualities as well, such as the ability to slow down, take it easy and enjoy what we have in the present. One way to counter-balance our chronic addiction to being busy, it to practice yin yoga.
2. It will dissolve chronic tension stored in your body.
Sitting at desks for too long, too much driving, lack of exercise or even too much exercise can cause stress and tension in the body. These knots of contraction occur in the fascia, and yin yoga works directly on the fascia of the lower body to deeply release any built-up tightness. Fascia is connected in one long sheath, and simply by working on a few areas where the fascia is dense (such as the lower back and hips), allows it to start to loosen up all over.
3. It will shift you from "doing" mode to "being mode".
Every "asana" or posture in yin yoga is held from 3 to 8 minutes, which is a significant period of time dedicated to being still and aware of the breath. This can feel difficult if you are not accustomed to "doing nothing", but over time you will be able to simply surrender and just "be", and your body and mind will be able to relax deeply. It is a good segue into traditional forms of seated meditation also.
4. It will complement your other workouts.
Running, swimming, sports and working out at the gym are all "yang" forms of movement due to their repetitive, forceful nature. While very important for strength and fitness, they can also lead to joint wear and tear, injury and habitual tightness in specific areas of the body. Yin yoga can deeply stretch tight areas and reduce the risk of injury as well as help to cultivate an awareness and acceptance of the body's natural limitations.
5. It will improve your attitude to life and make you a calmer person.
Perhaps the most powerful benefits of yin yoga is the way it will slowly change your attitude to your life in general. You will develop qualities of patience, acceptance and compassion towards your body within the poses, and these same qualities will show up in your daily life as well. From becoming more tolerant to people who ordinarily frustrate you to taking better care of yourself and being able to live more in the moment, yin yoga will slowly change your life from the inside out.
About the Author:
Sharee James is a qualified naturopath and a yoga and meditation teacher. Try her short "taster" yin yoga class and experience the peace of yin yoga for yourself!
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