Photo: Mina Habibi www.minahabibi.com
For National Yoga Awareness Month and National Wellness Week, I thought I would share my favorite yoga practice- Yin Yoga.
Yin Yoga is not the new kid on the block but rather a resurrection of traditional old style yoga. The main difference is found in the length of time used to remain in the same pose. Some of the poses are short - just a few minutes or so but other positions are held stationary for up to twenty minutes.
There are approximately 36 different positions to learn with this style. The purpose behind them is to draw the energy (or the chi) from dormancy to work throughout the body. The positions or asanas should be completed in a particular order to help achieve that energy filled body.
Holding the postures takes long in this style of yoga and stretches the tissues and joints in various parts of the body. Because of its helpful benefits, some doctors prescribe a treatment of this type yoga to help people with addictions deal with the emotions and find the tranquility they need.
That might not seem like it's such a workout, but try doing on the poses and holding it still (don't forget the proper breathing!) for twenty minutes. If you havenít ever done it and have not familiarized yourself with the correct techniques, by the end of the twenty minutes, your muscles will quiver from the exertion of holding still.
Relaxation and learning how to stretch the tissues and joints is an important part of this type of yoga. It ís only by knowing the first steps to limber and flex the body that you'll be capable of moving on to the positions.
Learning the poses is what helps those who practice yoga with the meditation postures. Performing this yoga brings a satisfaction to the mind in that it relieves stress and it brings a relaxation to the body in that the tension is freed from the joints.
All forms of yoga can transform lives and can help to slow the ravages and the toil that time dishes out onto the body. Taking up Yin Yoga has a lot to offer anyone and itís a great style for the beginner and those who are recuperating from emotional trouble. It can bring a deeper level of energy, balance and better health to all who practice it.
Want to learn and experience the benefits of Yin Yoga? Join me in my once a month Sunday evening class entitled, "A Sunday Kind of Yoga- A Full body Deep Stretch and Meditation" online Zoom class. See link to join starting September 26th
Also, check out my donation based Mindful Yin Yoga class through the non-profit, Heal One World, on Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm EDT. Register below:
