If you have found your way here, it's likely that you are one of the yogis who has been joining me at our local yacht club on Wednesday evenings, as the sun sets. With flickering candles and a Spotify playlist, we form a semi-circle with our mats, focus on the view (above), inhale deeply, and then - for the next hour - exhale our worries away.
This is Yin.
I came to Yin late in life. And, I admit, somewhat reluctantly.
Yin requires a slowing down. A "being." I am, I confess, a do-er not a be-er. The inside of my head is a chaotic place, and having to confront it, with no busyness to distract, has always been uncomfortable. Disconcerting.
But when my fifties hit, an annoying combination of menopause, a gene for heart disease, and a little midlife crisis, led to a lifestyle re-evaluation. My cardiologist prescribed statins. Google suggested Yin.
I was already teaching yoga (at elementary and high schools), my classes mostly filled with high-performance athletes. Yin would surely not be that different?
I signed up for a class.
I was wrong. It was different.
And that first class was not fun. My thoughts kept interrupting me. When were we going to stand up? Move around? Why were we just lying about, doing nothing?
Google had said it would be relaxing. Good for my heart. And my soul. It even promised to reset my nervous sytem.
All I wanted was coffee.
That was ten years ago.
Four years ago, I took the Yin certification. And here we are...it's the only form of yoga I now teach.
What Exactly is Yin Yoga?
In a nutshell: Yin is a gentle, slower-paced style of yoga that is more than just stretching. It’s a calming practice that invites you to let go, slow down, and connect with your body.
Poses are held for longer stretches of time—typically from three to five minutes. It gently stretches and relaxes your body’s deeper tissues: the ligaments, tendons, and fascia (the connective tissue around your muscles). The idea is to settle into each pose, relax, and allow the body to release built-up tension over time.
It's about slowing down and letting gravity do the work. This has a calming effect on both body and mind, relieving stress and encouraging you to tune into yourself.
Some Benefits of Yin Yoga:
Improved flexibility
Better joint health and range of motion
Reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety, & depression
Improved circulation
Mindfulness
Better sleep
In one five-week study, people dealing with high stress levels practiced Yin Yoga and experienced notable drops in anxiety, better sleep, and even lowered plasma adrenomedullin (ADM) levels, which are linked to stress and heart health. The extended holds help to activate the body’s "rest and digest" mode, calming the nervous system.
Holding poses for a few minutes encourages awareness of sensations, thoughts, and emotions, leading to a kind of moving meditation. Research suggests that this mindfulness aspect of Yin Yoga can lower both immediate stress (state anxiety) and general anxiety (trait anxiety).
What to Bring to Yin
Yoga mat
Blanket (optional)
Cushion or yoga blocks (optional for support)
Wear any comfortable clothing (and bring socks for Savasana)
Each week, this blog will focus on one of the poses we did in class. It will list benefits, adaptations and other interesting snippets. If you have any questions, please email me.
xoxo Lindy