Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga that incorporates principles of traditional Chinese medicine. It is a more meditative approach to yoga, with the goal of increasing awareness of inner silence and bringing to light a universal, interconnecting quality. Yin Yoga poses are held for longer periods of time than in other styles of yoga, with advanced practitioners staying in one asana for five minutes or more. The sequences of postures are meant to stimulate the channels of the subtle body known as meridians in Chinese medicine and as nadis in Hatha yoga. Yin Yoga poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues of the body, such as tendons, fasciae, and ligaments, with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility.
Yin Yoga is a quiet and contemplative practice that targets the deepest tissues of the body. While "yang" yoga focuses on muscles, yin yoga targets deep connective tissues like fascia, ligaments, and joints. It is slower and more meditative, giving practitioners space to turn inward and tune into both their mind and the physical sensations of their body. Yin Yoga helps stretch and lengthen rarely-used tissues while also teaching practitioners how to breathe through the poses.
Yin Yoga was founded in the late 1970s by martial arts expert and Taoist yoga teacher Paulie Zink. It is taught across North America and Europe, encouraged by its teachers Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. The main difference between yin yoga and other types of yoga practice is the amount of time you hold each asana (or posture) . With more dynamic forms of yoga like Vinyasa Flow, you only hold each asana for 5 to 10 breaths and continually move in and out of different poses. In yin yoga, you hold each pose for 3 to 10 minutes, allowing the body to relax and release tension.
