Yin

Based on the work of Paul Grilley, Yin yoga is a slow-paced, meditative style of yoga that focuses on the deep connective tissues of the body known as fascia:  a network of tissues surrounding muscles, bones, organs, and all other structures in the body.  It's the webbing that holds us all together, and it plays a vital component of our body's structure and function. Healthy, dynamic fascia is crucial for mobility, flexibility, and overall well-being.

Poses are held for extended periods, typically 3-5 minutes, to encourage a deeper internal awareness, release of tension while promoting mindfulness and physical ease. Rather than asking the student to fit the pose, Yin yoga asks the pose to fit the individual needs and accommodations of each student, through the use of props and postural variations. 

Therapy Balls may also be used for self-massage, postural support, and increased internal awareness. Teachers may also choose to add Yang postures or mobility-based flows to gently warm the body in preparation for the longer holds.

Yin yoga believes time is more important than intensity. A yin practice values time, simplicity, and compassion. Time is what allows the body to relax into the stretch and allows the mind to surrender to the present moment.  Students are encouraged to establish their own “edge” in every pose—to work within the limitations of their own bodies. This “edge” may change from day to day or even minute to minute within a posture. From there, we invite ourselves to find stillness to relax the musculature of our bodies to work connective tissues like fascia, ligaments, tendons, joint capsules, and more.