Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is the often forgotten but much needed compliment to dynamic (yang) yoga practices.

In Chinese philosophy there are two principles: the Yin - dark and feminine, and the Yang: light and masculine. By necessity these two principles must interact in order for the other to exist, i.e., we can only identify light by comparing it to dark / we can only identify feminine by comparing it to masculine.

In Indian yoga philosophy each body is made up of both masculine and feminine principles and both are housed in opposite sides of the body; Shiva, the masculine principle, is housed in the right hand side of the body while Shakti, the feminine principle, is housed in the left hand side.

Creating balance between these two principles is necessary to reach your truest potential. In our yang/dynamic yoga practice we stimulate the masculine principle over and over again, repetetive over stimulation of one priciple creates disharmony within the body and mind. In order to rebalance the bodymind we must cultivate a yin/peaceful yoga practice to compliment and enhance our yang practice.

Yin classes are very different to restorative yoga, in restorative yoga you fully let go and release in order to restore the bodymind, in yin classes we explore the bodymind through floor based exercises, holding deep stretches for 2 - 5 minutes at a time, rebounding between poses or sequences as necessary.

The benefits of yin include: calming and balancing the bodymind, regulating energy in the body and increasing mobility.

Choose between a 1 hour class or a 1.5 hour class - please wear warm, loose, comfortable clothing!