What is Yin Yoga? What is it designed to do and how is it different than from other yoga practices?
Yin Yoga is a more gentle style of yoga, that was developed to target the deepest connective tissues of our body that are normally not exercised in a more active style of Yoga practices. Active practices designed to work only our muscles whereas Yin Yoga allows us to work our ligaments, joints, deep fascial networks. Therefore Yin Yoga is not intended as a complete practice in itself, but rather as a complement to more active forms of yoga and exercise. A Yin Yoga class usually consists of a series of long-held, passive floor poses that mainly work the lower part of the body—the hips, pelvis, inner thighs, lower spine. These areas are especially rich in connective tissues. The poses are held for up to five minutes, sometimes longer.
And energetically, Yin Yoga improves the energy flow by removing blockages in the body and enhance the flow of Chi in the organs. Yin Yoga classes can be designed to focus on specific meridians like kidney- urinary bladder, liver-gall bladder to stimulate the chi flow to those areas.
There are two main principles that differentiate Yin Yoga from other styles of Yoga; holding postures for longer periods of time and targeting connective tissues around the joints rather than muscles.
What if I can not stay still for long?
I think we can only get better at something by doing it. In this case by practising stillness. In Yin Yoga, we focus our attention to our breathing and we regulate our breathing, When our breath is calm and deep, this tends to relax our body and mind.
How can you tell if you are getting results?
You will feel more flexible in your body especially in the hips, legs and lower spine. Also the mind will become calmer and more relaxed.
How often should I go?
I would suggest at least once a week. It will evolve into what it needs to evolve to as everybody is different. Once someone feels the results in their own body and mind, they can actually feel when they need to practice. It can be done everyday unless you have a very intense practice.
Is it suitable for someone who is unfamiliar with Yoga?
Yes, beginners can start their yoga journey with Yin Yoga. They can start with holding poses for shorter period of time building up gradually for longer holds.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Filiz Reynolds began practicing yoga back in 2009. Initially, yoga was intended to be a means of providing physical exercise. However, over the years, her relationship with yoga deepened, helping her relieve both symptoms of an injury from childhood and alleviate the everyday stress of a busy professional career.
As her personal practice and passion for yoga grew, she began her 200 hour Teacher Training in Anusara Style with Chris Chavez in 2013 in Istanbul. She has also completed 100 hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Sebastian Pucelle & Murielle Burellier in KL and Bangkok. Over the years, she has participated in workshops with renowned Yoga teachers, such as Kino Mcgregor, Seanne Corn, David Kim, Michelle Lam, and others.
Today, Filiz continues to practice Yoga on a daily basis, benefiting from its ability to bring balance into her life.
