What Is Yin Yoga?
Yin yoga is predominately a mat (sometimes wall based practice) that works deeply into our body with passive, longer-held poses...
It's slower and more meditative, giving you space to turn inward and tune into both your mind and the physical sensations of your body.
It targets the deepest tissues of the body, our connective tissues – ligaments, joints, bones, the deep fascia networks of the body and the meridians. Our fascia responds to loads, (i.e Tension and Compression in Target Areas ) this is so important when it comes to the physical part of our practice , finding our edge, whatever that may be for each individual.
While Yang yoga practices (Ashtanga, Vinyasa) physically target the ‘superficial’ muscles, in Yin yoga, we target the deep connective tissues of the body – the ligaments, joints, bones, and deep fascia networks.
Yin Yoga offers deeper access to our bodies than we can’t normally access in a more yang style practice. It is the perfect balance, to any intense exercise, whether that’s the gym, cycling, running, GAA, we need Yin.
Yin yoga works on the yin tissues – also known as the connective tissues.
Connective tissue responds best to a slow, steady load, which is why we hold the poses for longer. If you gently stretch connective tissue by holding a yin pose for a long time in this way, the body will respond by making it a little longer and stronger – which is exactly what you want.
Energetically, Yin yoga improves the energy flow, enhancing the flow of chi in the organs. To be healthy, we need healthy organs as well as healthy muscles.
Yin yoga also offers wonderful emotional and mental health benefits.
