How Yin Yoga Has Helped Susan
I’ve been practising yin yoga at Studio 70 for nearly three years. When I joined the studio at the beginning of 2017, I signed up for an unlimited membership so took the opportunity to try the full range of classes available. Over time I recognised that I gained most satisfaction from yin. For me, it is a deceptively simple form of practice: slow, meditative, and focused on finding my edge when holding a small number of poses for 2–10 minutes at a time. Deceptively simple because my body always tells me how much I’ve worked in the day or two that follow each class!
Yin is about softness and deep stretching of fascia, the connective tissue that protects our muscles and internal organs, and classes are designed to work on areas of the body that are aligned with specific meridians. Although some poses were familiar to me from other yoga classes, I found that their names and the approach taken in yin are different. For example, pigeon pose is called swan in yin practice. The key difference in approach is the intention to soften the body when in the pose by curving the back and allowing the weight of the head to deepen the stretch. This is one of the stand-out benefits that I have experienced through practising yin, as I can feel the stretch easing the tension in my back, shoulders and neck. This action is repeated throughout class in other poses such as butterfly, dragon and [forward fold?] with accumulative effect.
One pose that has been particularly challenging to me is melting heart. This involves maintaining the lower half of a table top position (hips over knees) but stretching the arms out in front and lowering the chest toward the mat with the aim, ultimately, of resting the chin or forehead on the mat. At first I found this a scary move, sinking lower, unsure if I could get myself out of it. Over time, I have found myself growing in my willingness to surrender to the experience and sincerely appreciate the demanding stretch it provides.
When I first joined Studio 70, I had never committed to an exercise regime for longer than a month. I told myself that if I couldn’t commit to a class that took place about 100m from home then I never would. Three years later, it’s not the proximity of the studio that keeps me coming back for more. It’s the warm welcome, the sense of community and the amazing teachers. Recently I have resumed attending a range of classes at the studio, recognising the benefit of a broader practice and the opportunity to work on other needs that I have such as balance and strength. However, yin remains my first love and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in a holistic approach to their health and wellbeing.