Find Balance with Yin Yoga
Don’t we all have days where our minds are bombarded with stimulation? One cannot help but wonder if this level of redundant stimulation in everyday life has always been considered normal or whether it is unique to today’s society. The answer may be unclear but what it yields to is pretty obvious: choked up nervous systems; resulting in decreased life quality.
As a result of over-stimulation, we either find ourselves possessing too much energy that our bodies and minds could handle. Or with no energy left at all, as if our life light has been sucked, leaving us with the feeling of an empty-shell.
Chemicals, drugs, coffee and sports training are ingrained approaches encouraged by Western medicine tradition to handle with imbalanced life energy. They all are different but at the same time analogous tools, and there is a scientific explanation behind it. These tools are argued to originate from the dominant reductionist approaches, which pre-accept that illnesses result from a biologic defect or pathogen.
So, an energy imbalance that discomforts our everyday life, is not qualified as a disease to be addressed by Western medicine traditions, unless an underlying somatic effect exists. Fortunately, it is also our societies that have begun to see the inefficiencies of these tools and to realise the healing power of ancient Indian practices.
As you have probably heard before, the main difference of such practices is hidden in their holistic approach towards human existence. Treating the mind, soul and the body as a whole.
Yin Yoga is one of the most underrated yoga practices in its ability to heal discomfort and stress arising from over-stimulation.
Yin Yoga originates from the Taoist concept of Yin and Yang, which presents opposite and complementary elements in nature.
Yin embraces stillness and non-reactivity. Having combined patience, flexibility, and equanimity as its essential elements, Yin Yoga takes things nice and slow.
If you have ever experienced a Yin Yoga practice, you’ll know how important holding long postures (for five to 20 minutes) is. It is through these postures that Yin Yoga spreads therapeutic vibes.
Those gentle pigeon postures, forward bends, and lunges are there to invite you to test your patience, to encourage to raise your consciousness, and to assist to empty your mind.
Concentrating on your breath opens up a reality where you can allow any thought patterns to arise, to observe them, and then let go without getting involved.
Experiencing a posture at its fullest to switch to the next posture in a few minutes, lights your way to realise how serene stretching can be.
Regular Yin Yoga practicing is reported to release the body into the parasympathetic nervous system on a mental and emotional level, which is a spectacular revitalisation.
Negative energy does not manifest itself only in mind, but also in body. That is why deep stretching and breathing help you to release not only your tissues, but also energy around it. From head to spine, every different part of your body is known to coincide to different energy wheels. These energy wheels are described as “chakras” in the Sankstit language. Each chakra vibrates at a different periodicity, refers to a particular colour, associated with a functionality of a specific organ.
The identification of chakras paves the way to clean the blocked energies that may be collected in our bodies. When cleaned of blocked energies, chakras become balanced, and the energy begins to flow freely. As a result, your circulation improves, flexibility improves, mind, body and soul get balanced.
Free flowing energy? Sign me up!
A range of unique Yin Yoga classes are offered here at The Conscious Club.
Yin Yoga, Ying/Yang, and Yin restorative run regularly and are open to people at all levels. You can read more about these classes here. Tickets for our regular classes can be purchased here.
We also have a range of special classes that are available once a month. These classes expand on the practices we offer on a regular basis, giving you the opportunity to dive deeper into the classes you love.
Open your mind and body to Yin Yoga
If you you have not practiced yoga before, let Yin Yoga be your starting point. It is one of the warmest gifts you can give to your mind, body, and soul!
If you have previously practiced yoga, we recommend giving Yin Yoga a go. It may be your next chance to challenge yourself, and stay consistent to your principle of trying new things throughout your own yoga journey.
No matter where you view yourself to be in your yoga journey, there is definitely something to learn from a Yin Yoga practice!
Conscious Contributor: Asli Seven
Asli is a LL.M holder by day and a yogi, tanguera, traveler, and blogger by moonlight. She has had an roactive childhood, participating in sports and dancing until she was forced to quit after suffering an injury. However, that paved the way for her to learn about yoga and other ways of living a mindful life. As someone who values a holistic approach to health, she believes the key to a better life is in the connection between mind, body, and the environment. You can follow her journey on Instagram.
Sources:
Dr. Suzanne Bennett Johnson ‘Medicine's paradigm shift: An opportunity for psychology’ (2012) 43(8) Monitor on Psychology
Ekhart Yoga ‘Yin Yoga’
Geraldine Beirne ‘Yin yoga: be part of the yin crowd’ The Guardian (2015)
Navatu Dreams ’Chakras Explained: The 7 Chakras You Need to Know About’