Ten Benefits of Having a Regular Yin Yoga Practice
Benefits of a regular Yin practice
Yin is a comparison term. Compared to the more yang styles of yoga, yin is cooler and practiced in more of a soft, slow manner. Postures are held for a longer period of time, typically between 2 - 6 minutes here in our classes. The holding of postures encourages opportunities to just be, to not have to think about what comes next.
Personally I believe that when thinking purely about the immediate benefits of yoga; when practiced very irregularly, they are greater in the yin styles of yoga compared to the more yang. Unless of course you had specific goals on the day. I think in the many discussions I have had with people who wish to try yoga but are not yet interested or ready to have a regular practice - it seems common that they have reached a point where they need something to slow down and encourage the mind and body to relax. This contributes to this misconception that a yin practice is only for slowing down and why people miss the link between why one should practice yin yoga on a regular basis.
Here are ten benefits of having a regular Yin Yoga practice:
1. The practice of slowing down.
You know very well that this is going to benefit you on the day no matter how challenging slowing down may feel. However, think about the tools you could adapt into other areas or situations in your life. With regular Yin Yoga you will be well practiced in holding in presence and breathing through mentally/physically uncomfortable or even challenging postures.
2. Yin Yoga helps to get your body into the phase of rest & digest/the parasympathetic nervous system.
Slowing down your breathing, relaxing muscle activation and staying present. As a teacher this is top in my priority list of things to encourage, to give you as little to think about as possible and let me guide the process. Tuning your body into coming out of the sympathetic nervous system (the fight, fright or flight mode) is going to be without a shadow of doubt, beneficial to your health and wellbeing.
3. Slowing down the rhythm of breath.
This goes hand in hand with number 2. However as a tool on it's own is worth the mention. Learning to have such a great level of awareness on your breathing and noticing the rhythms and how to slow it down if necessary. Being present with my breathing is one of my most favourite tools that I can and do transfer into my at-home practice as well as other areas of life off my yoga mat.
4. Yin Yoga aims to work into the fascia connective tissue.
I know we often feel tight or worked in our muscles and make comments of needing to do yoga. Really in a Yin class I am guiding students to soften the activation of muscles and inviting other cues alike in the hopes of working into fascia connective tissue - which is a fluid filled matrix found throughout the body. I am going to leave that there otherwise if I start to talk about fascia I might not be able to stop myself!
5. It might not always be a purely physical experience.
I can't speak for all teachers but I focus on the anatomical and physiological facts of Yin Yoga postures and use this to cue and to guide a class to minimise the "noise" of too many things to think about. Though it is not uncommon to have experiences beyond physical. At any point in a regular practice, you might work through emotions, you might work through mental chatter, you might gain a spiritual connection as you indulge in self enquiry. Obviously these opportunities are increased with a regular practice.
6. Time for yourself is crucial for wellbeing.
Celebrate opportunities where you have time to yourself, time to be with and get to know yourself. This gets me all fired up and passionate. We all are familiar with the saying "you can't pour from an empty cup" - but as a compassionate human with a whole bunch of responsibilities you might not always relate this to yourself. Give yourself permission to take this time for yourself, not just when you get to a point where it feels like you desperately need it.
7. A regular Yin Yoga practice encourages self compassion.
As you work through challenging postures whether they're physically, mentally or emotionally challenging, at some point you will probably notice an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude that you showed up on your mat time and time again, gratitude that you made it through some challenging moments and really learning to be compassionate towards yourself especially when those challenging moments meet you again.
8. Improved & sometimes increased range of movement.
The freeing up of the fluid filled matrix that is fascia feels so good in the body. One of the ways often described to me by regular Yin Yoga practitioners is having an improved range of movement. A little bit more caution to the approach of postures is required for people who are already quite flexible. However the benefits of freeing the fascia still remain and worthy of special mention is the hydration of the fluid-filled fascia when it has been freed.
9. The postures are really adaptable.
Given the use of props, the time in the postures and the nature of Yin Yoga the postures, they are really adaptable so you can adjust to suit how your body is feeling on the day. The time in the postures also means that in a class setting your teacher has time to offer those adaptation cues to the class and you have some time to explore your options and land correctly.
10. Finding balance.
It is safe to say that most of us will be experiencing the busy tasks of day to day life. Could you add a little regular Yin Yoga to increase your opportunities where you do truly slow down?