YOGA - WEST OF THE NARROWS

"Yin is based on the Taoist concept of Yin & Yang, opposite complementary principles in nature." - Eshter Eckhart

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It makes sense that my discovery and new-found respect and love of Yin Yoga has presented itself in my life. A go-getter by nature and goal-maker extraordinare led me to first find and fall in love with a very active practice (the Yang, you might call it). Power Yoga allowed me to sweat, break barriers, and work on poses that challenged me physically. For many years, if presented with the choice of restorative and seated postures vs. arm balances and poses that called upon strength and endurance, I would have chosen the latter. What can I say? I like a good challenge and I enjoy physical activity. It suits my fiery nature.

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What I neglected for so long was, however, exactly what was missing in my practice as well as in my life.

 

Yin Yoga surprised me, to say the least. My first class was at the now closed Viva Flow Yoga taught by Sarah (who now teaches at The Movement Studio @ Chiropractice Lifestyle Center in Bremerton, if you are interested). I thought it would be a breeze but was curious about this avenue I'd not yet tried. Yin Yoga introduced me to a new kind of challenge. Facing what I'd been shoving down emotionally and learning to let it pass through me.

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There are many physical benefits to Yin, ranging from awareness of breath and body, flexibility, release of tension and gripping of the connective tissues, ligaments and joints. Your body literally becomes more fluid as cells expand in the long-held poses. But, for me, the psychological benefits are the most impressive.

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"We all have issues in our tissues, which is to say, we store emotions in our bodies - where else could they possible be? Emotions are not stored out there in some cloud server on the Internet: they are not on a Google computer in hyperspace. They are within you, close at hand and ready at a moment's notice to manifest." - Bernie Clark of yinyoga.com

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It is not uncommon to experience the primal 'fight or flight' reaction when it comes to the postures in Yin. Getting curious is a great way to counter both. Without retracting from sensation and what may come with the unknown (Flight), and/or managing the aggressiveness of 'squaring up' to a pose with a goal-oriented mindset (FIGHT), we are given the opportunity to ALLOW. This allowing gives rise to the release of stored traumas and emotional/energetic blockages.

 

In connecting to the breath as our most valuable tool, we are invited to 'sit with' the emotions that arise in the stillness and silence. This is something we, as a society, are not accustomed to with our fast-paced, hyperactive and overstimulated environments. Not only does Yin provide physical release, but emotional as well, which is equally as important for balance and harmony in our being.

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Curious? What are you waiting for? As the awareness and popularity of Yin Yoga rises, there are more and more options to find a suitable class for you locally. And if you have barriers to making it to a class, there are online videos galore to guide you through (in which I recommend investing in a couple of blocks, a blanket, bolster and a strap- although many household items can take place of these official props).

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Yin is in, and unlike most fads that dissolve with time, this is the sustainable real-deal. Feeling ready? Head to www.yogawestofthenarrows.com to find a local studio near you that offers this magical experience.

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Namaste, Yogis!