Most people are familiar with Yang styles of yoga, for example; hatha, vinyasa and ashtanga (to name a few). In yang styles of yoga you are working the muscle tissues of the body and doing repetitive movements.
Yin yoga works the other half of the body, the yin tissues. Our yin tissues are the connective tissues which include the fascia, ligaments, joints and even our bones. When we practice yin yoga we relax our muscles in order to work deeper into the other tissues of the body. Along with relaxing our body, we hold poses in stillness for a longer period of time – generally 3-5 minutes.
There are many benefits and reasons to engage in a Yin yoga practice, not just physical benefits like increasing flexibility and joint mobility, but there are also numerous energetic benefits that affect organ health, our thoughts and emotions.
Just as we need to engage in yang type of activity we also need to introduce yin into our life.
This sequence is good for those who sit at a desk for long periods of time. Our focus is to release tension in the shoulders, neck, hips and legs.