Udara

YIN YOGA

A Practice To Get Still, Tune In, and Heal the Mind-Body Connection

Nowadays in the west, the word ‘yoga’ has been used to describe a great variety of things. Is Yin Yoga just another trend in the western Yoga scene? What is the value of this practice that has grown so much in popularity during the last years?

With new ‘styles’ of yoga springing up on every corner, new class names, poses, teachers and students starting to follow the trend, it’s easy to get lost in it all (Have a look at one of our previous posts about Navigating your way through the Yoga jungle). At Udara we offer 5-8 classes in different styles and Yin Yoga is an integral part of our monthly schedule.

Key Qualities and Benefits of a Yin Yoga practice

Yin Yoga is a relatively new style which has begun making its way into western studios and spaces. Popularized by Bernie Clark, Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley (the ‘pioneers’ of Yin Yoga) the Yin practice involves mainly floor-based yoga asanas, held for longer periods of time (between 3 – 5 minutes, sometimes even longer) in stillness.

The physical benefits of the Yin practice are what has drawn many active western yogis to it – things like the lengthening and softening of muscles, fascial connective tissue, and the increased flexibility experienced over time and regular practice are even making Yin Yoga appeal to athletes, weight-trainers and people who have never stepped foot in a yoga studio before.

The Meditative Aspect of Yin Yoga

While this is all positive, in reality it’s the meditative aspect of Yin Yoga which gives it the edge it deserves. When taught through this lense (almost Vipassana-meditation style, with stillness and silence) the spaces created and held by Yin teachers become more than mere spaces to increase physical flexibility. Most of our Yin Yoga classes at Udara are in the evenings with soft light of candles, which helps you to wind down and at the end of the day and dive deep into a meditative space.

This quiet zone allows you dive deeper into the layers of our being – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – and explore their interconnectedness. A regular Yin practice can open up more space on all these different layers.

It’s worth mentioning too that for many people, the simple act of becoming still and ‘doing nothing’ for 3-10 minutes can be the biggest challenge with Yin Yoga. This speaks to the over-stimulated western mind, and the healing power of cultivating stillness and space within.

By reaching and holding at the ‘edge’ of a yin pose – our ‘limit’ or the place where we feel strong sensations – we become more aware of our limitations, increase our capacity to withstand challenges and can become more resilient – on and off the mat.

The Balance of Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang are two terms which many of us may be familiar with on some level, but which might also seem vague without a context through which we can understand them.

In general, Yin speaks to anything feminine in nature – softness, calmness, receptivity, ease. On a deeper and more introspective level, other (less tangible) things demonstrating Yin qualities include:

  • Night time
  • The exhale breath
  • Wintertime
  • Stillness
  • Meditation

Yang, on the other hand, is the way in which we understand practices demonstrating and requiring more dynamic, energetic and external activities. Often this is described as embodying a more masculine energy, but as all living things contain both masculine and feminine.

In the same way, the Yang quality is demonstrated by:
  • Daytime
  • The inhale breath
  • Summer
  • Movement
  • Action

Through understanding the energetic qualities of our yoga practices – Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Flow and even Hatha Yoga being more Yang, where Restorative/Yin, Nidra and meditation would embody a more Yin quality – we can understand that certain practices stimulate our energy in specific ways.

Over time and with practice, we can learn how to give our body exactly the practices it needs, when it needs them. At Udara we offer you a great variety of different Yoga styles each day, from more Yang and movement-oriented classes to more Yin focused practices, plus a variety of events that help you to dive deeper into your practice and find balance within.

Especially in the western world, where most of our daily activities and cultural norms are Yang oriented, it is very valuable to incorporate regular Yin oriented practices into our schedules in order to stay in balance. Especially when you are a very active person, seeking out stimulation, movement and goal-attainment can be an easy trap to fall into on your yoga journey. The reality of this can often actually move us further away from the true essence of how yoga asana was initially intended to be shared and practiced – as a precursor to meditation and as a tool to create union.

Are you coming with us on a Yin journey with the sounds of the ocean in the background in one of our airy Yoga Shalas at Udara? Check out our monthly schedule and our events!