What is Yin Yoga? How does Yin Yoga work?

The practice of yoga that we do today comes from varied traditions based in ancient India. Most of what is called yoga today can be traced, at least in part, to the Hatha Yoga tradition. Hatha Yoga was primarily concerned with strengthening and preparing the body for other practices like sitting meditation. From its origins, Hatha Yoga has expanded to include many styles of practice.

Today’s video is all about a style of yoga called yin yoga. In this video, I cover the questions What is yin yoga? and How does yin yoga work? Make sure to also check out the resources I’ve included below!

Yin and Yang

You may know the terms yin and yang are borrowed from Taoism and Tradition Chinese Medicine. The word yang refers to relative masculine qualities in comparison to something that would be more yin and feminine. Yang is faster, stronger, more external and dynamic. Yin is softer, more passive, internal and gentle.

Most physical styles of yoga today emphasize a more “yang” approach. While yin yoga refers to a more yin approach.

What is Yin Yoga? How does Yin Yoga work?

During yin yoga, we hold postures for longer periods of time in a very passive and receptive way. Most postures are also done on the floor. This can help to target specific tissues, increase circulation, and encourage more mobility. Sometimes yin yoga is also practiced in a way in which the slower more gentle approach is used to encourage internal awareness practices like meditation, contemplation, or pranayama or breath practices.

Foundations of Yin Yoga

During yin yoga postures are done by entering into a pose and coming to a place that is sometimes called the “edge”. In this context, “the edge” is a place where there is a manageable amount of sensation. This edge is not a place of pain or a place that feels too intense. Instead, it’s a place where you feel some pressure. This sensation indicates there is adequate or appropriate stress on the tissues. This can lead to greater circulation in the tissues and joint sites.

Feeling (sometimes strong) sensation in the pose is one of the ways yin yoga is different than restorative yoga. If you want to learn more about how yin yoga vs restorative yoga check out: What’s the difference between yin yoga and restorative yoga?

Once the edge is found, the practitioner mostly relaxes the musculature. Yin Yoga postures are also held in relative stillness for a longer period of time. Depending on which pose is being done, there may be some muscular engagement, but for the most part, during yin yoga, you can soften. The amount of muscular engagement will also depend on the person as some yogis need engagement to protect vulnerable joints or injuries.

View a few examples of yin yoga poses with instructions on how to practice:

Benefits of Yin Yoga

Yin yoga encourages fluids and blood into the tissues and joints which keep them supple and healthy. The yin style targets what we call the “yin” tissues of the body, while the yang style practice activates more of what we could call the yang tissues like the larger muscles.

The yin yoga practice has the potential to calm the nervous system, and you can develop your meditation practice during the long holds. Yin yoga is also believed to increase the circulation of Prana or Qi in the energetic system of the body. All movement and yoga poses actually help to circulate Qi through the meridian system of the body, but yin yoga, in particular, encourages Qi to move into the deeper structures.

Origins and Development of Yin Yoga

Western teachers such as Paulie Zink, Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, and others, have popularized and contributed to the development of this style by adding their understanding and integration of Taoist and eastern energetics, and Buddhist meditative practice to the slower yin style movements.

While the term “yin yoga” was more recently coined and refers to a pretty specific style of yoga, a slower more contemplative approach to yoga practice has been around for a very long time within the yogic tradition.

You could say there are many ways to make yoga practice more yin that go beyond just the common yin yoga postures. Slowing down, focusing on internal sensations, and staying close to the floor could all be considered yin qualities you can bring into your yoga practice.

Creating your Yin Yoga Practice

One of the aims of yoga is to create balance in the body, heart, and mind. Because our contemporary approach to yoga practice has tended to be more yang, and our culture also favors yang, a slower more yin style practice helps to create balance.

When first beginning a yin yoga practice it can seem like the practice is too slow and passive, but just because it is quiet and simple does not make it easy! Holding the posture for longer amounts of time allows the opportunity to explore sensation and the nature of the mind. In this way, you can develop greater states of presence while at the same time opening the physical body.

The yin yoga practice is more cooling and quiet so I suggest making sure you’re comfortable. If you tend to feel a little cool you could practice in a warm room. It’s also nice to have some extra props like blankets and bolsters of cushions to use as you need. If you’re practicing on your own, having a timer is nice so that you can stay in the posture for the same amount of time on both sides.

While you practice each of the postures, remember that you can focus on your breath to calm and focus the mind. When it’s time to move out of the pose take your time, and engage your muscles as you move. The tissue that is targeted in a yin style practice can be more sensitive. As you release the pose give the body some time to adjust and notice the sensation of blood, fluid, and Qi rushing to the area you were targeting.

Practice yin yoga along with me: