Yin Yoga
I have had a fascination with fascia since studying myofasical release and craniosacral therapy in massage school, 2010. One part of our training was a 3 day “myofascial unwinding” retreat where we silently and gently allowed our patients (each other) to unwind through years of restriction caused by stress, postural habits and held emotions. The areas we targeted (for example, inside the jaw) sometimes seemingly unrelated to where the problem presented.
Yin yoga is a beautiful, introspective practice that stimulates and hydrates these fascia trains that run throughout the whole body.
🌟 Do you feel tightness or restriction (knots, trigger points, tension) in your body from postural imbalance or repetitive movement patterns?
🌟 Are you already practicing “Yang” style exercise (most types of yoga, running, cycling, weights, gym etc) which strengthens the muscle, but not enough time stretching and stimulating the connective tissue (joints, ligaments) to regenerate?
🌟 Do you feel that your life is already at a fast enough pace that you would benefit from an hour a week to slow down and learn to cultivate mental stillness?
Yin yoga involves holding yoga postures for between 1-5 minutes (or longer) to apply gentle stress to the connective tissues in the body. Injury, habitual posture in daily life, and aging, among other factors can bind these connective tissues together, creating so-called adhesions and restricting that movement between the sliding surfaces of the muscles. It is also believed to stimulate the flow of chi/prana through meridian lines in the body. Yin yoga results in a gentle lengthening of the muscles, breaking up adhesions in the myofascia allowing tissues and organs to glide over each other and healthier and hydrated joints. You learn to feel into the tissues being stretched, squeezed, twisted and compressed, becoming more pliable, and a sense of release.
✨ If you love participating in sports, Monday night yin yoga is your perfect post-weekend recovery session, allowing you time to feel into your body as you release adhesions and develop mental focus.
✨ If you have had injury or muscular tension through overuse or poor posture, yin will assist you to find balance with plenty of options offered for each posture.
✨ If you lead a busy and fast paced lifestyle, a yin practice can be an hour in your week for meditation and introspection.
Yin Yoga is different from many other styles of yoga as it involves long, slow holds that targets the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, and even the joints of the body that normally are not exercised very much in a more active style of yoga practice. Suitable for nearly any student, Yin Yoga is a perfect complement to the dynamic activities that we are mostly used to that focus on muscular strength and contraction. Once you have experienced this practice, you’ll realise traditional exercise programs offer only half of what the body needs for optimum function.
It is important to have a yin and yang balance in life (as the yin/yang symbol depicts), so enjoy the practice of yin to deeply nourish and hydrate your body, be curious about the sensations and emotions that arise and enjoy some time to be still.
🔷 What to expect 🔷
Yoga postures are held for 1-5 minutes
We use props (bolsters, blocks, straps) to support the poses, and variations will be given so poses are accessible for everyone
The act of holding postures over extended periods of time requires mental discipline and focus. You will be guided through techniques on how to breath through this, connect with your body and let go.
My classes sometimes involve therapy ball work to further enhance release of fascia adhesions.
🔷 The Details 🔷
When: Monday nights 7:15-8:30pm.
Where: The Yoga Centre, 51 Gilbert Street, CBD
Cost: Casual class $20, class multi passes (valid for all classes at The Yoga Centre) are available http://theyogacentre.com.au/classes/timetable
If you are interested in one-on-one Yin yoga sessions which involves a personalized program or sequence, teacher assisted postures (think long-hold Thai massage), therapy ball work and option for meditation or Yoga Nidra - please head over to my One-on-one Yoga
page.
🔷 About Deanne 🔷
Deanne combines her anatomy knowledge from her career as a health professional, as well as her massage training and over 20 years of yoga experience to create yoga sequences for athletes, utilising therapy ball work to release trigger points and knots. She works with several sports teams as well as holding regular Therapy Ball and Yin Yoga workshops for the general public to teach students techniques that they can easily do at home. She also loves the vigorous practice of Ashtanga yoga, a practice she has been dedicated to for over 10 years and teaches beginners courses in this style of yoga.