The Principles of Yin Yoga - Philosophy & Practice of Yin Yoga

What is Yin Yoga? Learn the basics of a yin yoga practice and it's philosophy.

What is Yin Yoga? Yin yoga is often called the Yoga of the joints because unlike other styles of yoga, the emphasis is not on the muscles but on the deep connective tissue. Connective tissue is made up of fascia, ligaments and tendons which surround and form your joints. Yin yoga improves the range of motion in your joints and also strengthens them. The results and benefits are more flexibility and greater range of motion and also more stability within your joints. Although your muscles will also be stretched, that is not the focus of the practice. It is best to practice yin yoga while your muscles are cold and NOT warmed up, even if that sounds counter intuitive. The reason we do this is so that we can send the "stress" and the "Stretch" to the connective tissues. If the muscles are warm they will steal the focus away from the joints.

There are 3 principles of Yin Yoga.
1. Find your edge
2. Be still
3. Hold the pose

Find your edge means respecting your body's limits and not pushing too far and risking injury. Pull back a little bit and as you hold the pose you will be able to go deeper into it without pushing too far or hurting yourself.

Being still means that once you are in the pose it is important to completely relax your muscles so the benefits can get into the connective tissues and joints. Try not to fidget or move or distract yourself, this is a meditative practice. Breathe deeply in and out through the nose.

Holding the pose means that in Yin Yoga a pose can be held for 1-10 minutes depending on the pose performed and on the comfort level of the student. I usually teach poses held for around 4-5 minutes. Learn to surrender and keep a timer close by if needed.

Use as many props as needed in Yin Yoga! Blocks, bolsters and straps are all great ways to support your body to make sure you are respecting your edge and not going too far.

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Kassandra

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[ashleywyatt]

How am I just now finding this channel!? Just finished 30 days of yoga with Adriene and have done almost every Boho beautiful workout. So excited to add you in to my go to yoga girls 😄

[sacred]

Paul Grilley”s DVD “yinyoga” took me out of job related lower back pain in one session that many months of physiotherapy, massage and a few sessions of chiropractics (a modality that does not make sense to me at all but tried at my physios suggestion) could not even temporarily relieve. I cried after my first tentative session with the RELIEF yin gave me. It is my go to practice now whenever I feel less energy or the body is just feeling more restricted than normal. It was an absolute blessing to find as was Sarah Powers, Bernie Clark and Biff Mithoefer.

hope Yin doesn’t become bastardized, as so many other forms of Yoga have, now that it is becoming more main stream. Just because one does doesn’t mean they should teach.

Thank you for this offering. It’s so rare and so extremely refreshing to find practitioners that practice what they preach. When a persons heart is truly into what they do they create avenues and allowances for those that don’t have money to burnout but have a need to experience.

Blessings
Heather

[Nightowl]

I just came across your videos this morning, and I wish I would've found them a lot sooner. I've been doing yoga for a while now. Some of the other videos I've been following are good, but I just didn't connect with them. I found one of your morning workouts and absolutely loved it. Yin Yoga is definitely the perfect fit for me. I'll be following your videos from here on out.

[jancraddoc]

Thank you Kassandra! I love all of your classes! Sometimes the 60 minute ones are too long for me, I prefer the 20-40. You are a great instructor!

[Uto-Qeta]

I truly enjoy yin yoga and thank you for creating this amazing online practices for us. Your stile is pretty unique ❤️🙏🏻

[katiehartzell]

I have been watching your videos for the last several months. You are so lovely. Thank you for sharing your light and beauty!

[edmyoga]

I love your explanation and introduction on Yin! I have a dance background as well and can relate to trying to push further, but my yoga practice has totally helped me respect my body! Love the number scale! Thank you beautiful!

[AngieJones]

I love yin yoga! It's my favourite type of yoga, since the first time I practiced it, I felt so good, relaxed and calm.
My body is changing with it. I'm more flexible now and I know I owe it to yin, I feel different in my mind, too.
Yin is a special type of yoga, it's my personal retreat and I'm grateful for the moment I found it.
I'm sure you understand all of this and much more. Thank you, Kassandra for your vídeos. I follow your channel a lot and feel a special conection with it because, like me, you practice a lot of yin and that's just perfect! : )
Keep it up and thank you for all the goodness I feel when I practice you classes.
Namaste.

[irishcladdagh]

OMG!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS....JUST WHAT I NEEDED AND ITS PERFECT!!!

[paulafelix]

Thank you so much for this explanation, dear Kassandra. I only do yoga with you! I love your energy and videos.
Big hug from Portugal. :)

[emoceanful]

Thank you for this. Your explanation is very helpful.

[airborneshodan]

Finished reading your book today, been doing your yin videos for a while. The book provides a good compliment to your videos with modifiers and purpose of poses. It also provides some sort of certainty in Yoga that has drawn me to Ashtanga and Bikram in the past. When I see your video titles now I can have an idea of what we are going to be doing.

[noahheyl]

I held 3 yin poses for 20 min each today and it was amazing

[healinghope]

Thank you so much for going over this!!

[elsuu]

Thanks for this, I have been hoping to learn more about yin yoga. You're truly the yin queen of YouTube yoga!

[chandragould]

I Found your description of the Yin Yoga principles really helpful to extend my understanding and to add to my Yoga practice. many thanks

[TheChrysalisGal]

Thanks again Kassandra. This has been super helpful. I joined your channel back in February and have been loving your classes ever since. 😊

[KathyWheelerAuthor]

Thanks! I especially appreciate the advice to back out as I'm a beginner and have never been very flexible. I think yin yoga is what I need!

[GreenIdget]

Thank you so much for this principles of yin yoga video! Understanding the basic principles and purpose enables me to perform the poses in a more effective & meaningful way, and one which is more "correct" for me and my body. 👍🏼🙏🏼

[xueling]

i love Yin Yoga!! i tried it during a fitness fest, and then i found ur videos on youtube. thank u for ur videos, i love it ❤😃