Yin Yoga is a style of yoga that focuses on opening the body. Yin Yoga involves holding deep stretches for longer periods of time (30 seconds to several minutes), relaxing the body in the poses, and finding stillness. This gentle practice of stretching and creating space provides expanded range of movement as appropriate, healing and repair, lubrication of the joints, and opportunities for meditation. Also, the energetic meridians of the body are believed to run in line with the body's connective tissues, allowing you to clear and revitalize energetic pathways from your toes to your fingertips. Classes will focus on the internal orientation, with ample time for meditation, pranayama (breathing techniques), relaxation, and self-study.
Rebecca's Yin Practice:
In Rebecca's classes, the stillness and depth of the Yin postures are balanced with gentle fluid movements and relaxing Vinyasa in between poses. Her Yin practices will also include restorative yoga, taking the level of physical effort in the poses to an absolute minimum and letting the students relax deeply with the support of props (bolsters, blankets, etc.) Her intention is to create a space where students can feel comfortable, free to explore and relax.
Who can benefit from Yin Yoga?
Anyone can receive the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of a Yin practice. Yin will be great physically for those with highly dynamic and athletic lifestyles, since it will help to open and create more balance and appropriate range of motion in the body. Yin will also be a nice practice those that would like a more gentle form of yoga. Yin provides a deeply relaxing quality full of opportunities for mental restoration and self-study. The stillness and quiet in a Yin practice sets the student up nicely for meditation practices whether you are an advanced practitioner or completely new to the idea meditation. Just like with all forms of yoga, everyone can benefit on some level.