FINDING YIN

By Olivia van den Heever

In this fast-paced yang world, finding yin starts on our yoga mat.

Yin yoga’s call to ‘do less’ may not sit easily with those who are used to an active, sweaty workout. Yet this powerful practice may be exactly what you need to restore balance to a busy, hectic lifestyle while offering a list of proven benefits to your physical body, nervous system, and emotional and mental wellbeing.

Yin yoga is a slow, gentle form of yoga made up of a series of passive, mostly floor-based postures that are held for “longer periods of time.

Rather than using force or control, the practice works with the elements of time and gravity to bring you deeper into the poses, offering up a space to let go, surrender and shift into a deeply relaxed state.

So many of us are spending most of our time stuck in the sympathetic or ‘fight, flight or freeze’ nervous system, with more widespread, chronically elevated cortisol levels than ever before. Many people don’t give themselves space, time, and - most importantly - permission, to release the need to always be ‘doing’ and allow themselves to just be in their beingness. This is the gift that yin yoga offers.

Whereas ‘yang’ yoga practices such as ashtanga and power yoga focus on strength, discipline and movement, yin is all about doing less by softening, releasing and opening to receive the medicine of each pose.“

Less of a workout and more of a ‘work in’, the focus is about going inwards to connect with the subtle sensations of your body and breath, and to tap into the healing powers of your parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ nervous system. Yin yoga is a practice that’s said to facilitate healing on a physical, emotional, mental and energetic level.

Physically, rather than working on developing or stretching our muscles, it guides us to relax our muscles in order to gently activate the fascia, ligaments and tendons, building flexibility in a unique way. The power of yin yoga lies in the long holds, which should last at least three to five minutes per pose, but can be held for as long as 15. Props are often used to further support the process, allowing a gradual opening up of the body in a physical and energetic way.

Energetically, yin works with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine by activating specific meridians, or energy channels that run throughout the body. The same channels are stimulated in acupuncture treatments. By physically moving our bodies into the prescribed shapes, we allow for an unblocking of stagnant energy and enhance the flow of ‘chi’ or life force energy to circulate in the body.

Somatic research is proving more than ever that unprocessed emotions are stored in the body. Yin yoga serves to create space to let go of any stuck or stagnant energy or bottled-up emotions.“

Certain postures may bring about a cathartic release through tears, light shaking or deep sighs.

On a mental level, it serves as a meditative practice, with a focus on being still and present. This practice of stillness is one of the most challenging aspects to what appears to be an ‘easy’ style of yoga.

Studies have shown that a regular practice of yin yoga outperforms meditation in significantly reducing stress, alleviating anxiety, improving sleep and balancing emotions. Some other significant benefits are enhanced mental focus, increased flexibility, improved circulation, as well as an overall sense of well-being.

Within our on-the-go lifestyles, yin yoga offers a safe space in which you can shift gears from the busyness of the day into a nurturing, calm and relaxed state that will bring about a greater sense of inner peace and tranquillity that spills over into every other area of your life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Olivia van den Heever is a yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator and holistic wellness coach at Olivia Moon Wellness. She is also the resident teacher and retreat facilitator at Bodhi Khaya Retreat. For more information or to get in touch, visit oliviamoonwellness.com.