Benefits of Yin Yoga
In Yin yoga, we target the deep connective tissues of the body – the ligaments, joints, bones, and deep fascia networks.
A Yin class usually consists of a series of passive floor poses. These poses mainly work the lower part of the body – the hips, pelvis, inner thighs, lower spine. These areas are especially rich in connective tissues.
On an energetic level, Yin yoga improves energy flow and enhances the flow of chi in the organs. However, the practice also offers huge mental and emotional benefits too, as we’ll find out.
1. Reduces physical tension in the body
Yin yoga can be thought of as the deep tissue massage of yoga. The poses you’ll move through in a Yin class help to release physical tension and unblock stagnant energy being held in the body.
Yin allows for more time to be spent in each pose which promotes a deeper stretch.
2. Yin is a “workout” for your connective tissue
Yin seeks to target the connective tissue of the body through long, slow holds of cooling poses that allow it to expand over time.
Yin uses gravity paired with body weight to gradually expand the connective tissue. This approach has the potential to stimulate collagen and elastin production in our joints.
3. Yin Yoga is the perfect complement to traditional exercise
Yin yoga has deep roots in Taoist philosophy which puts focus on the need to find balance between yin and yang.
Yin yoga, which by nature is a slow, cooling practice, is meant to be a complement to yang activities which focus on building heat and energy through movement (E.G Dance, Tennis etc. which are all yang activities.) Adding Yin yoga into the mix is a way to ensure that the body maintains a sense of overall health and longevity by focusing on creating mobility in the joints.
Taking the time to move through a Yin practice creates space to focus the mind and become more in tune with the depth of our thoughts, feelings, and consciousness, which is another key benefit of the practice
4. Yin Yoga helps to build emotional awareness
Finding dedicated time to just “be” with our thoughts is a challenge. Modern life is busy – from work, to family, to household responsibilities and everything in-between, we often consider ourselves lucky to just make it through the day. And, let’s be honest, the quiet time that could be spent in contemplation with our thoughts usually gets filled with scrolling through Instagram or checking out a YouTube video.
Yin yoga puts us back in control and encourages us to take a look at the current state of our minds and emotions.
Sometimes this can be an overwhelming place to dive into, especially if it’s been a while since you last checked in. But, when we face any emotions we’re experiencing head-on, it allows us to build an awareness of their existence, and then learn how to move through them which is a healthier place to live from and is also another benefit of the practice.
5. Yin Yoga teaches resilience and perseverance
Human beings have a natural instinct to move away from discomfort as quickly as possible. This is part of our evolution and is related to us craving a sense of safety in order to ensure our survival.
When you first enter a hip opening yin pose it may seem impossible to hold it for another second much less the full five minutes you’ll be in the pose. But, by taking a few breaths and learning to just pause, the mind is trained to move beyond its initial instinct to move away from discomfort and instead to create an opportunity to let go of physical tension and find more space.
True happiness is found through being honest about our emotions and giving ourselves permission to feel them, whether they’re “good” or “bad.” When we bring the mind to a place of quiet or stillness in a yin class, we gain practice with acknowledging our emotions, feeling them, and letting go of them to make room for whatever comes next. Over time, this builds mental fortitude along with both physical and emotional resilience and teaches us that we are capable of handling the challenges that come our way. This has a direct influence on our stress response and leads to another benefit of the practice.
6. Yin Yoga reduces stress and anxiety
When the body has more time to operate in a relaxed state it can reduce the risk of cardiac disease and stroke, lower your blood pressure, restore metabolism, and aid in the regulation of bodily systems. The steadiness of the Yin Yoga practice combined with its focus on deep breathing allows for the body and mind to drop into the parasympathetic nervous system and create a deep sense of all-around health.