![]() To have a healthy range of motion around our joints, many of us need to also stretch the deep connective tissue and the joints. So, if you practice only dynamic forms of exercise or yoga, you will gain muscle strength, but not necessarily a wider range of motion. ![]() That’s why if you miss a few days of practice, you might notice a decrease in both flexibility and strength. Muscles, being yang tissues, warm and stretch quickly but cool and retract just as fast. On the other hand, dynamic styles like Vinyasa emphasize muscle movement and stretching. When stretched regularly, it increases the overall flexibility, circulation, and range of motion in the joints and ligaments. Our yin tissues are less vascular (supplied with blood) and elastic, and therefore need more time to stretch. When we hold a pose for a longer period, we bring the stretch to the yin tissues, which are the deeper tissues such as the tendons, fascia, ligaments, and the other connective body tissues. (Side note: Historically, asanas often had 5 to 10-minute holds too!) While Hatha Yoga is more static by nature, beginners usually maintain a pose for no more than 3 minutes-still shorter than in Yin Yoga. This stands in contrast to the dynamic practices of Ashtanga Vinyasa and Vinyasa Flow, where poses last 5 to 10 breaths. In Yin Yoga, poses are typically held for a generous 5 to 10 minutes. Grilley’s student, Sarah Powers, suggested a better name would be Yin Yoga given the focus on passive postures. Inspired by Buddhism, he called his classes Yin Yang Yoga. The results were overwhelming he saw rapid improvement in the range of motion of his students. Over time, he began to teach some passive stretching classes to his students. However, after months of training, Grilley didn't see the results he'd hoped for, and he returned home to continue practicing dynamic styles like Vinyasa Yoga. Eager to learn, Grilley attended Zink's Taoist Yoga classes, experimenting with long holds of 5-10 minutes. Founder Paul Grilley came across a presentation on TV of Paulie Zink-a martial arts champion and Taoist Yoga master-and was amazed at Zink's flexibility. ![]() Paul Grilley describes Yin Yoga quite perfectly in his book as “old wine in a new bottle.” Keep reading to find out the key differences between Yin and Hatha Yoga. While the postures are reminiscent of Classical Hatha Yoga asanas, they've been renamed to stand apart. It's about effortlessly settling into a pose, often supported by props such as cushions and bolsters. Yin Yoga can easily be distinguished by its focus on passive (yin) postures which minimize muscle activity and stretch the connective tissues. However, as gurus like Swami Sivananda introduced it to the masses, durations were adjusted to 1-3 minutes to make it more accessible. Initially, Hatha Yoga, with its long holds, was a monk's discipline, where poses would be held for up to 10 minutes at a time. It’s widely believed that Yin Yoga originated in China, but the practice is in fact deeply rooted in the time-honored tradition of Classical Hatha Yoga. Yin Yoga is a new style of yoga, where practitioners immerse themselves in passive poses for extended periods, typically ranging from 3-10 minutes. So, if you've ever wondered what Yin Yoga is beyond relaxing asanas, keep reading. If you're new to this practice or simply want to learn more, this complete guide will breakdown the core principles of Yin Yoga, its transformative benefits, and 5 Yin archetypes that'll elevate your practice. ![]() During this time, I gained a significant understanding of Yin Yoga and the benefits it can offer when practiced correctly. ![]() I began to delve deeper into Yin Yoga, training with the founder of this unique style, Paul Grilley, over two years. Classes explored gentle, passive stretches, with a focus on connective tissues and energies. There, I experienced something very different to the “lazy” style I had been told about. But as time passed and more students mentioned it, my curiosity grew.ĭetermined to understand the true meaning of Yin Yoga, I took a course with author and Yin Yoga Master, Biff Mithoefer. I laughed, thinking I'd never teach such a style. Admittedly, I had to ask, "What is Yin Yoga?" She explained that it was a 'lazy' style of yoga from China, perfect for relaxation without much movement involved. In 2002, a curious student asked if I taught Yin Yoga. ![]()
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