Yin Yoga for Stress Relief and Relaxation

“Anxiety's like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you very far.” ― Jodi Picoult

Whether or not you're in the United States, it's likely that you know what today is.

It's election day, here, and it is a day I've been waiting impatiently for for four years.

(I was in France the last round, and cried all day. It was the first time I truly felt that the United States had let me down and I walked through Perpignan with my head down and my shame radiating from my skin)

Whatever the outcome is, half of the people are going to be in turmoil while the other half is going to be rejoicing.

I've got all my fingers and toes and legs and eyes crossed on this one.

So, instead of bringing in more yang on a day that is bound to be high tension, I thought we could all use a little extra yin.

Yin is a slower paced style of yoga, wherein the asanas (postures) are held from anywhere between 45 seconds to five minutes. The postures are used to stimulate the channels of energy in the body, knows as Meridians in Chinese medicine, or Nadis in a Hatha yoga sense.

Oh, I know, now I'm getting into weird yoga things ?

But think of the nadis as simply channels within the body through which your energy flows.

The three main nadis, according to yoga philosophy, flow from the base of the spine to the head, and consist of Ida on the left, Pingala on the right, and Sushumna in the center. You can think of Sushumna Nadi as your spinal column, as it follows the same path, but in the physical rather than the energetic. These nadis flow through and connect all of the main Seven Chakras in the body.

​What are Chakras? Let's get into those on another date.

Ok, back to this Yin Class.

Yin is the more feminine energy, tied to the moon, introspection, and fluidity.

The connective tissues within the body: the tissues that are stable, solid, and give us shape. So, in Yin Yoga, we focus on stretching the connective tissue rather than the muscle.

How do we do this?

We practice Yin cold.

As in, before we're too warmed up. When we warm up, we are more likely to stretch the muscles and lose connection with those connective tissues.

So, do this class first thing.

Allow the mat to support you in moments of stress or tension.

And I encourage you to truly lean into your practice when times are tough. That's what it's there for. That's why you have a daily practice, even if you're here for the fitness.

Because physical and mental health go hand in hand.

See you on the mat.
xoxo, Dylan