A slower more "yin" style practice targets the yin tissues of the body -- namely the connective tissue, bones, ligaments, joint sites, and tendons. It also helps to cultivate mindful loving attention while practicing yoga.
Practice along and learn about yin yoga with free yin yoga videos, posts, and tutorials.
Savasana (corpse pose) is a resting pose that is usually used at the end of yoga practice. But you can use savasana at any point in your practice to integrate the movement and practices you've done.
Savasana helps us to let go at the end of our practice. It helps to calm the mind and induces a sense of relaxation. You can also use savasana throughout your day as a way to "reset", process daily events, and reduce fatigue.
Half butterfly pose and half dragonfly are forward folds with one leg bent and the sole of the foot placed along the inner thigh of the opposite extended leg. The names of these poses are oftentimes used interchangeably so I included them together for today’s video.
Both of these forward folds help to open the back, hips, and inner leg which correlates with the Kidney, Liver, Gall Bladder and Urinary Bladder meridians.
Shoelace pose is used within the yin yoga system to externally rotate the hips, stretch the inner thighs and groin and, if you're folding forward, decompress the lower spine.
The primary meridians affected are the Liver, Gallbladder and Kidney channels. If you're folding forward the Urinary Bladder meridian will also be affected.
Child's pose, like all forward folds, is a very cooling and calming posture. It can calm the mind, relieve stress, stretch the spine, open the lower back and sacrum, and help to compress the lower digestive system.
Childs pose targets the Spleen, Kidney and Urinary Bladder meridians as well as the Liver meridian if the knees are wide and the Stomach meridian if there is pressure on the thighs and low belly.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (and many other eastern healing arts), the body contains channels of Qi or prana. These channels are called meridians in Chinese Medicine and they act as gateways to the "energetic" or "subtle body" system.
Each channel is related to a pair of internal organs and can be activated through acupuncture, touch, movement or meditation. Along each of these channels lie acupressure points which have specific functions and/or actions.
In a yin yoga style practice postures are softly held (mostly on the floor) for long periods of time.
Holding a yin yoga posture creates circulation in the tissues and joints keeping them flexible and supple, calms the nervous system, and increases circulation of Prana or Qi in the energetic channel system of the body.
Within our yin yoga practice we can practice sequences of poses that directly target areas of the physical body as well as specific meridian lines. Meridians are considered channels where Qi or Prana flows. Qi is the basic life force of the body. Having enough Qi flowing smoothly in the meridians is key to health and longevity in body and mind.
While each pose effects multiple meridians at a time we can combine the poses in a sequence to emphasize one or two meridians.
Within our yin yoga practice we can practice sequences of poses that directly target areas of the physical body as well as specific meridian lines. Meridians are considered channels where Qi or Prana flows. Qi is the basic life force of the body. Having enough Qi flowing smoothly in the meridians is key to health and longevity in body and mind.
Within our yin yoga practice we can practice sequences of poses that directly target areas of the physical body as well as specific meridian lines. Meridians are considered channels where Qi or Prana flows. Qi is the basic life force of the body. Having enough Qi flowing smoothly in the meridians is key to health and longevity in body and mind.
While each pose effects multiple meridians at a time we can combine the poses in a sequence to emphasize one or two meridians.
Today's video is the yin yoga posture "reclining spinal twist". There are many variations to this pose dependent of personal preference and mobility in the knees and back. This posture primarily helps to twist the spine and "massage" or squeeze the internal digestive organs, making it a great pose to work out any last bits of tension near the end of your practice.