A Yin Fling in Spring (for Ekam Yoga Festival).

Description

Cleanse and Clarify

Come pique your curiosity and soothe your senses with a foray into Yin Yoga. This is the perfect practice to complement the more dynamic ‘Yang’ practices like Ashtanga or Vinyasa Yoga. Yin Yoga consists of mostly floor stretching poses, typically held for 2-5 minutes. Yin poses apply moderate stress to the connective tissues, tendons, fascia and ligaments, with the aim of increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility. It also improves the flow of ‘Chi’ (energy) through the meridians (energy channels) of the body, as in the Chinese Medicine Theory.

A Yin Fling in Spring was created for Ekam Yoga Festival 2016 in Port Macquarie, Australia. This class was presented in the season of spring so poses used target the Liver and Gallbladder meridians (energy channels). According to the Chinese Five Element theory, the body is made up of the same five primary elements that exist in nature – Wood, Fire, Metal, Earth and Water. Each of these elements links to different organs, and affects us physically and psychologically. In spring the wood element is strongest, so activating the meridians of the liver and gallbladder brings balance to these organs, providing us with the ability to change and be flexible, just like the seasons.

The poses in Yin are held typically for 2 – 5 mins which is needed to eustress the tendons, ligaments, fascia, muscles and joint capsules. Maximum intensity is never the aim in Yin Yoga so we do not take joints to their extreme ranges of motion, instead we aim for 60 – 90 % intensity. In these long holds you will practice mindfulness, noticing what is going on in your mind at any given moment, but not get carried away by it. Before you start the class I suggest you read the Yin Yoga Practice Guidelines document, so you have an understanding of the safest way to practice. You can expect poses that activate the inner and outer legs, side-bends, twists and backbends. This class encourages more vitality, compassion, mobility, detoxification and clarity. Come practice with me!

Lessons

1 Yin Yoga Practice Guidelines 2 A Yin Fling - 50 min class 48:25

The Coach

Martine Ford

Yoga Instructor & Founder of Spirit Yoga

Martine Ford first started Spirit Yoga in Port Macquarie in 2010 after a desire to share her knowledge and passion for yoga with others. After a decade, that has grown also to an appreciation of Pilates for it's ability to help re-habilitate imbalances in the body and injuries, so effectively. Of course, Barre was a natural progression as it encompasses all of her passions since the age of four to today: ballet, yoga and now Pilates!

A former professional dancer, she has a Diploma in Dance as well as numerous yoga certification in: Power Yoga, Core Strength Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Pilates (mat), Reformer Pilates, Pre & Post Natal Yoga, Kids Yoga and Yoga for Seniors (mat & chair).

Martine’s classes are powerful, playful and nurturing and you can practice a class locally, online or download one of her e-books on Amazon. She has also taught numerous classes, courses and workshops including presenting at Ekam Yoga Festival.

Martine has trained with Duncan Peak and Power Living Australia Yoga (Advanced Power Yoga), Zenergy Kids (Advanced Kids Yoga), Jo Phee (Yin Yoga), Sadie Nardini (Core Strength Vinyasa), The Yoga Institute (Pre/Post Natal Yoga), Donna Farhi (Yoga for Lower Back Pain), YMEDICA REWIND Gold: Successful Aging (Yoga for Seniors), Body Soul Wellness/Josie McKenlay (Pilates mat & Barre), Reform Fitness (Reformer Pilates).