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

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!