Yin Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, India

Have you ever imagined doing some physical practice, moving your body, stretching it out but without getting tired or over exhausting? Yin yoga is exactly that. A way to meet your movement goals but in a relaxed manner.

It is an extremely therapeutic practice where you put your body into deep stretches by placing pressure on connective tissues which in turn promotes flexibility and enhances blood circulation. Postures in yin yoga are held for a longer duration allowing the body and mind to relax and release all the tension. It's a slow movement practice which if done with complete awareness can be very meditative promoting not just increased joint mobility but a profound sense of mental clarity and emotional balance.

If you are not a fan of any physically heavy practice, Yin Yoga is the perfect way of building a deeper connection with your body bringing in some physical movement as well as mindfulness in your life. Dive into this calming practice and experience the transformative power of stillness.

Yin Yoga, stems from an ancient Chinese philosophy, it is inspired from Taoism and also incorporates elements from traditional Chinese medicine. Yin yoga targets on cultivating and restoring balance of Yin (feminine, cold, dark) and Yang (masculine, hot, light) energies in our body.

Yin - yang (refer Taijitu Symbol for visual representation) are energies that are opposite in nature, two halves of one whole. Independent but inseparable. They work together in an union creating a symphony of vital force running in our body. This force is called chi. Chi running through us is the essence of life, keeping us alive and is the underlying principle that governs the nature of all existence.

Yin yoga originated in the 1970s, this practice includes elements of both yoga and meditation, it embraces stillness, stretches the body, promotes deep relaxation and releases all the blockages boosting the flow of chi energy in the body. It's not just about moving the body and relaxing but it's an approach towards a profound inner exploration fostering balance and deeper connection with ourselves.

Just like how before practicing any other form of yoga it is important to learn about the internal working of the body. Similarly, before practicing or teaching Yin Yoga it is important to understand how to safely adjust the body into a position

Learning anatomy will help us know how our internal body responds to postures and it will teach us how to respect our bodies while performing. Yin Yoga demands holding of postures for a long time and sinking our bodies into deep stretches that focus on connective tissues (eg- ligaments, fascia etc). Working with the body requires a thorough knowledge of the interplay between joints and muscles.

Moreover, this knowledge will create a solid base to develop mindfulness, enabling us to connect breath with movement and recognize sensations as we hold each pose. This inturn will also help us cultivate a greater grasp of our relationship with our body and mind, build boundaries according to our comfort zone by making us aware of our physical limits and capabilities.

The first edge is found by gently getting into the shape of a pose and noticing where the body naturally wants to stop. Yielding the natural limitations of the body prevents injury. There should be no pain at the first or any other edge, yet there may be some discomfort. Discomfort without radiating pain is a sign that the connective tissue around the joints is stretching. Reasonable discomfort is a gateway to more flexibility and greater range of motion. Props can add additional comfort and accessibility to yin yoga poses.