(All levels) Yin Yoga is a quiet practice which allows the practitioner to increase their level of self awareness through the retention of positions for up to five minutes. Stillness is a profound teacher. The Yin practice is an exploration of stillness from a variety of different perspectives. Unlike traditional seated meditation, where the mind eventually settles into the habit of a single position, the Yin practice challenges the mind to scan the practitioners internal life from multiple angles. This lesson focuses on releasing the spine and hips with the butterfly pose and the child’s pose. Like a grain of sand under a microscope these seemingly simple poses, often regarded as basic in Hatha yoga classes, are both healing and challenging when held for extended periods of time. Practitioners are encouraged to use whatever props are necessary to allow them to surrender to these poses and free their minds while loosening joints and connective tissue.
