Yin Yoga
What is Yin Yoga?
Yin yoga is a super slow style of yoga. The intent of this practice is to work on the body’s yin tissues which are the connective tissues that include tendons, ligaments and fascia. By placing the body in shapes that gently pull on the skeleton and encouraging the muscles to relax, the joints are exposed to pressure. This helps the body initiate its natural response to stress by stimulating the channels of the subtle body known in Chinese medicine as meridians. These channels are like rivers that run throughout the body. As the poses are held for a while, these river-like meridians are flooded and nourished with chi (vital life force). Yin yoga can improve the health of the organs by stimulating their meridians.
The connective tissues have considerably less water than muscles, so they need time to open up. Yin postures are normally held for three to five minutes. So, yin is mostly a stationary practice that consists of floor poses that primarily affect the lower part of the body: hips, pelvis, and lower spine.
Yin is all about softening, slowing down, being still, surrendering and letting go. It is embracing the opposite of the active, busy, and energetic pace of our daily lives and helps influence our receptive and intuitive side. Yin yoga is often practiced as a compliment to more active forms of yoga and exercise. Its meditative approach develops our mind to become our ally and helps us to cultivate a non-defensive attitude toward sensations as postures are held for long periods. It is one of the most challenging yet rewarding dimensions of the practice.
What makes Kristen’s yin class unique?
Kristen is interested in the individual needs of her students. She separately checks in with students that are new to her classes to create a connection with them. She opens the door for students to share information about injuries or current concerns in their body. Kristen appreciates and understands different bodies and physical limitations. She discusses modifications or variations with props to ensure the student’s body will be nurtured and protected in all postures. Using props is one of her favorite things about yin classes because they help support the body and encourage it to soften and relax.
From the moment the students walk in, Kristen sets a tranquil atmosphere. Peaceful music plays and candles bring a soft glow to the dimly lit room. The environment welcomes students to drop in and let go.
Kristen’s teaching style is a balanced blend of talking, modeling, adjusting and just letting the students be. Kristen has a gift for clearly describing how to get into each posture and gives individual attention to students as they find the variation of the posture that works best for them. The transitions in between poses are very slow and intentional to keep the chill vibe of the class consistent. She often highlights the meridians being stimulated by a posture and how the body benefits from it, and she sometimes shares Buddhist stories for contemplation. Her hands-on adjustments allow students to melt a bit deeper into the poses. Through all of these strategies, Kristen sets the stage for her yin students to be present and meditative; to drop into a human being instead of human doing we so often become.