Of the many forms of yoga that I’ve practiced over the years, Yin Yoga has become my enduring favourite, and the one that I have chosen to share with others by offering weekly classes in the Sunshine Room.
I have never been a big fan of holding ‘yang’ yoga poses for very long. With yang poses, such as Warrior II, in which the muscles are held in a state of tension, my arms and legs would quickly get tired. Holding the pose would feel like a chore and it was hard for my mind to settle, as my main focus seemed to be “when is this going to end?” I am not knocking yang forms of yoga, as working the muscles is vitally important for health of course, I’ve just found other non-yogic ways to work the muscles, which I prefer.
By contrast, Yin Yoga poses give the muscles a rest, focusing instead on working the joints, tendons, ligaments and fascia, in a challenging but safe way. In my experience, with Yin Yoga it becomes possible to enter a state of ‘passive intention’, holding the poses for several minutes at a time, and allowing gravity and your own body weight to provide the challenge to the tendons, ligaments, fascia and joints.
Cushions, bolsters, rolled up blankets or blocks can be used to ensure that your body only goes as far as the first point of challenge, which becomes the ‘edge’ that you work with.
Focusing on the breath as we stay in each pose for several minutes, invites us to simply notice our thoughts as they pass by, becoming the observer of our own mind chatter, detached from the content and just letting each thought go, without judgement.
To cultivate awareness, so that we do not over-extend ourselves, and to be mindful to the present moment, is a great antidote to an increasingly over-complex and frenetic world.
For class information, please see the class schedule or contact Lisa at yoga@lisamead.uk, Mob 07940 889504.