The Benefits Of Yin Yoga

If you are reading this article chances are you wanting to improve your health in some capacity. Perhaps you googled, “why yoga is good for you? or “how can I reduce my stress levels?” Whatever your reasoning is, I am super happy that you landed here. Today I want to break down the benefits of yoga, but more specifically the benefits of Yin Yoga.

Yoga versus Yin Yoga

In the realm of yoga or asanas (the physical practice of yoga) there are numerous variations. Vinyasa, Power Flow, Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Yin, etc. Each has a very specific function; with most of the practices that are listed above all are meant to bring heat to the body. If you have ever gone to a yoga class you felt the heat that is generated within the body during your warm-ups, flowing through standing postures, followed by peak poses, and maybe some inversions. However Yin is entirely different which is particularly why it is my favorite.

Yin & Yang

Yin is a slow paced yoga, that is based on the principles of Chineses medicine. The body is meant to be cold, and each posture or asana is meant to be held for an extended period of time (5-7 minutes). As the weight of gravity is working to bring your body further into the posture we reach beyond the superficial muscles & into the connective tissue. The power of Yin is this; we hold a lot within the layers of fascia and connective tissues. Memories, pasts, fears, emotions, energy, etc so when we allow our bodies to release it creates a chain reaction of unblocking that specific energy.

Physical & Mental Benefits

When you look at the physical practice of Yin it can be obvious why it is beneficial physically. Your overall flexibility with improve, giving your muscles and joints increased range of motion. What most don’t think about is what is happening at a cellular level. Yin can be difficult; you are laying in postures for a longer period of time allowing the body to release slowly at it’s own pace. With that comes breath-work. When you are focused on your breathing, you are shifting your body into a parasympathetic state, decreasing cortisol levels, your stress hormone.

Yin Is About The Brain 🧠

The wave of Yin in the mind typically goes like this, ” I can hold this position.”

“Okay, this is uncomfortable…”

“How much longer? I can’t do this.”

“Take a breath, I got this.”

The mental aspect of Yin is getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. When a student or client can get past the physical sensations that they are feeling and tap into what is underneath the surface, that is when the surrender happens. The surrendering of memories, feelings, fears whatever is there.

Retraining The Brain

Not only are we starting to release or surrender, we are also retraining the brain to think in a way that is productive. When things get hard or uncomfortable we tend to turn away. We run away from resistance which only makes things worse. During my Flow and Release classes I often talk about sending your breath to the place you feel the most resistance. When we send focus on the breath and the point of tension we cultivate a sense of ease within the body. We are telling ourselves, it’s okay, breathe, you can do this.

Now imagine if you take this off the mat and put this same idea into practice. When something is hard or uncomfortable, instead of running away from it, we slow down, we become mindful, we move with ease. Can you imagine what that might be like? The benefits of Yin are far more than I could ever write out in a blog post. But if you are someone who is looking for stress relief, anxiety relief, finding peace within, & also the physical benefits of being healthier Yin is a good place to start.

Thanks for reading The Benefits Of Yin Yoga! If you are wanting to feel what this is like, head over to Patreon, my online wellness studio space! Gain access to guided meditations, emotional wellness tips, mindfulness practices, and yin yoga!

In gratitude, Han