Whether you’re a total yoga beginner, a seasoned yogi who is new to yin yoga, or an experienced yin practitioner, there is something for everyone in this eight-hour course.
In yin yoga there is time…lots of time: time to explore sensations, time to learn the appropriate depth for you in each posture, time to develop the habits of attending, noticing, and making appropriate decisions. This is one reason that yin yoga is so beneficial: You are provided time to get to know your body, what it needs and what it does not need.
Yin yoga explores the edges where resistance arises: This resistance may be physical, but there are other edges to become aware of as well—emotional and psychological edges are also to be noticed and honored.
On a physical level, yin yoga targets and affects our deepest layers: the connective tissues, which include our fascia, ligaments, joints, cartilage, and bones. All tissues need exercise to regain and maintain optimal health, and these deeper tissues are no exception. But, to safely exercise the deeper, yin-like tissues of our body we need to use yin-like stresses.
In this course you will get eight yin yoga practices, and you will learn:
The differences between and the complementary nature of yin and yang
To practice with both intention and attention
The three principles of the yin yoga practice
The reality of human variations and what it means for you
How to adopt a functional approach to your yoga practice as opposed to an aesthetic approach
How to avoid fragility and develop anti-fragility
How to stimulate energy flow and remove blockages
To develop mindfulness and hone your ability to attend
Even though Sarah Powers coined the term “yin yoga” in the late 1990s, the idea of holding a posture for a long period of time has been around since the advent of hatha yoga. It has also been used in sports, dance, martial arts, and gymnastics training for centuries, but it was Bernie’s teacher, Paul Grilley, who recognized a complete class could be structured around yin principles. This course is designed to introduce you to the concepts behind yin yoga and to provide an opportunity to balance both the yin and yang aspects of your practice.
