Cure stress and tension with Yin Yoga
Yin is a relaxed, passive style of yoga that involves holding poses, or asanas, for longer durations. This includes paying attention to your breath, thoughts, and body sensations.
It is a gentle form of yoga that’s cooling, grounding, and nurturing. Holding poses for longer periods while breathing slowly and deeply encourages stillness so you can go inward and relax the mind.
The Chinese medicine principle of yin and yang refers to the harmonious nature of the opposite and complementary elements that make up the universe. Yin is cool, slow, and passive while yang is warm, fast, and active.
Yin yoga is very meditative in nature and taught in a calm and gentle way. Different from active and dynamic asana practices, yin is static, relaxing, and practiced closer to the ground.
Who should do yin yoga? This style is suitable for people who are new in yoga or want to balance intense workouts. It’s also great for people who have health concerns or injuries that require low intensity activities as well as stress management. It is the perfect antidote to the busyness of modern living. The speed, pressure, and expectations many people constantly face in daily responsibilities keep the body in a state of stress. This activates the sympathetic nervous system known as the fight-or-flight response. Being still while focusing on calming the breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system known as the rest-and-digest response.
Yin yoga offers a treasure of benefits that alleviate pain and tension, relieve stress and anxiety, and improve your overall well-being. The practice of holding a pose for an extended period teaches you to sit with and observe uncomfortable emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations when they arise. Yin yoga benefits people who have experienced trauma or burnout by providing a safe space to reconnect to the sensations in the body without being overwhelmed. The practice provides the opportunity to experience the range of emotions that we so easily push downh or hide from ourselves. This may be due to lack of time, feeling unsupported, or simply not wanting to deal with those emotions. Research indicates that yin yoga helps develop mindfulness while reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. A 2018 study included over 100 adults and investigated the effects of a 5-week yin yoga program combined with mindfulness and psychotherapy. Compared with the control group who didn’t do any type of yoga, the two intervention groups experienced significantly reduced physiological and psychological effects related to noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. While both intervention groups reduced their levels of anxiety, depression, and insomnia, the group that combined yin yoga with mindfulness and psychotherapy significantly reduced stress levels.
As well, in a small 2021 study, student pharmacists and faculty who practiced yin yoga and guided meditation for 6 weeks increased their mindfulness and reduced stress and anxiety levels.
The findings were reported at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months, which reveals the long-term benefits of yin yoga and guided meditation.
More benefits of Yin Yoga:
balance emotions
improve flexibility
stretch connective tissue
boost circulation
improve sleep
enhance mental focus
promote relaxation
develop breath awareness
heal injuries
For Yin Yoga classes on demand visit Mudrawellness.com
At Mudra Wellness I provide support and direction for your health needs as well as custom health plans which have three foundational pillars: Food as Medicine, Ayurvedic herbs, and Ayurvedic lifestyle practices.
If you'd like a Holistic Health Consultation, Yoga, Retreat or to Rejuvenate & Heal with an individualized cleanse click https://www.mudrawellness.com/ and schedule with Jill Michelle Palmer, Ayurvedic Practitioner and E-RYT500 Certified Yoga Teacher.
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