The Benefits of Yin Yoga

Many of us live fast-paced, active lives, whether we’re going for a run, lifting weights, or sweating it out on a spin bike; we are almost programmed to give 100% during our workouts.

Yin yoga is the perfect balance to those intense training sessions, providing a slower, more meditative counterpart to help you round out your workouts.

Yin yoga is also great for anyone who is dealing with injuries or a chronic condition like arthritis or osteoporosis, as it is a more restorative practice than other forms of exercise.

A lot of the yoga practiced in studios across the U.S. is what’s known as “yang” styles of yoga—vigorous, fast-paced classes - but there’s another equally important style that’s completely opposite: yin yoga.

Yin yoga targets your deep connective tissues, like your fascia, ligaments, joints, and bones. It’s slower and more meditative, giving you space to turn inward and tune into both your mind and the physical sensations of your body.

Because you’re holding poses for a longer period of time than you would in other traditional types of yoga, yin yoga helps you stretch and lengthen those rarely-used tissues while also teaching you how to breathe through discomfort and sit with your thoughts.

Postures could be held for three to five minutes at a time. A yin practitioner is trying to access the deeper tissues, and many of the postures focus on areas that encompass a joint (such as the hips, sacrum, and spine, to name a few).

benefits of yin yoga: lengthens connective tissue

Think of your fascia as a shrink wrap around your muscles and bones.

When this connective tissue is underused, it becomes less elastic which can lead to aches and stiffness.

Yin increases flexibility. Elastic fascia and mobile joints lead to better flexibility, which is one of the key benefits of a regular yin yoga practice.

Because fascia needs at least 120 seconds of sustained stretching to actually affect its elasticity, yin yoga is one of the most effective ways at improving your flexibility and releasing tension in tight spots thanks to its long holds.

Benefits of Yin yoga: boosts your circulation

By breathing into each pose and targeting your deeper tissues and ligaments, you bring more oxygen into your body and to your muscles.

This helps increase your blood flow and circulation.

benefits of yin yoga: Stress

And Yin reduces stress levels. You’ll feel calm after a yin class, as studies have found yin yoga to have a significant impact on lowering stress and anxiety and reducing the risk of depression.

Plus, it activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which calms your body and slows your heart rate (rather than the autonomic nervous system which is activated during hard workouts).

Come try our very first Yin/ Restorative Yoga class on June 19 (time TBD). Because we believe so strongly in adding yoga to your regular workouts, the first class is complimentary. Sign up at the front desk today.