Yin Yoga with Rachel
Saturday – March 15th, 2014
11am – 1pm
$30

Slow down and learn to simply be.

Yin Yoga utilizes specific supported floor poses, allowing your muscles and fascia to release and chi to move freely throughout the body, stimulating specific organs. Traditionally, ancient yogis used asana in order to gain strength to sit for long periods in contemplative meditation—with open hips and a straight spine.

Yin Yoga similarly opens the joints and connective tissues of the hips, but with the support of props and variations. The deeper yin tissues of the body are rarely touched, yet can be accessed by maintaining the breath and flow of energy in seated poses, while the yang tissues of the body remain more superficial.

These healing poses are sustained for long periods of time. For many, letting go is more challenging than handstands. Yin is designed to draw your awareness away from your body and into your mind, creating a deep sensation of relaxed focus.

Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga with postures (asanas) held for longer periods of time—five minutes or longer per pose is typical. It originates in China and was first taught in the United States in the late 1970s by martial arts expert and Taoist yoga teacher Paulie Zink. Yin Yoga poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues—the tendons, fascia, and ligaments—with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility.

Yin Yoga poses are also designed to improve the flow of qi, the subtle energy said in Chinese medicine to run through the meridian pathways of the body. Improved flow of qi is believed to enhance organ health, immunity, and emotional well-being.