Yin Yoga

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin Yoga, based in concepts of Taoist Yoga, emphasizes the connective tissues of the hips, thighs, pelvis and lower spine. It is characterized by the relaxed practice of floor asanas for three to five minutes at a time. Yin yoga postures gently stretch and rehabilitate the connective tissues that form our joints, allowing us to maintain and restore joint flexibility.

Most yoga now practiced in the West is yang � an active practice that primarily focuses on movement and muscular contraction. Yang yoga provides enormous benefits for physical and emotional health, especially for those living a sedentary modern lifestyle. But it does not stretch the joints.If we don�t exercise our muscles, they will atrophy and weaken. Similarly, if we don�t stretch our connective tissues, joints, they will shorten and stiffen due to injuries, neglect, and aging. Athletes don�t retire because of muscle problems; they retire with joint problems � bad ankles, bad backs, and bad knees.

If we want to maintain joint flexibility, we must exercise our joints, but we cannot exercise them like muscles, we must exercise them Yin fashion. Yin Yoga is the ideal complement to more muscular or �Yang� forms of Yoga, helping yoga students get the greatest possible benefit from the practice of yoga. Modern researchers are also contending that strengthening and stretching connective tissues may be critical for long-term health.

Benefits of Yin Yoga

• Stretches and restores flexibility to the connective tissues of the body
• Improves base-line flexibility
• Creates therapeutic stress on the joints
• Develops and balances hyaluronic acid levels in the body � Hyaluronic acid cushions and lubricates joints.
• Improves and balances flow of life force energy (chi, qi, prana) through the connective tissues/meridian tissues of the body.
• Stimulates the movement of life force through the connective tissues
• Improves organ health.
• Quiets the mind.
• Trains and develops parasympathetic nervous system (digestion and energy conservation)
• Trains the mind to stay calm and quiet in the face of internal and external stresses.
• Pumps and circulates fluid in and out of the spine, the only way to fully re-inflate the discs in the spine.
• Reverses the aging process.
• Awakens the chakras.
• Enhances and deepens meditation practice.
• Brings emotional balance to body, mind, and spirit.

References and Related Links

• Yin Yoga: Outline of a quiet practice by Paul Grilley
• The Yin Yoga Kit by Biff Mithoefer
• Energy Medicine in Therapeutics and Human Performance by James Oschman
• Awakening the Chakras by Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama
• http://www.sumikiri.org/meridians/meridiansframe.htm
• http://www.cihs.edu
• http://www.fasciaresearch.com
• http://www.integralanatomy.com
• http://www.yinyoga.com

Related WikiHealth articles

• Yoga
• Restorative yoga poses
• Meditation