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What is Yin Yoga? How to Strike a Pose...

If you’ve practiced Yin before, you will not be surprised to hear that in Yin the concept of ‘edge’ differs to any other understanding of ‘edge’. Rather than pushing to the limits of endurance, Yin aims at quietening the mind before approaching a yin posture and exploring a unique edge.

Quietening the mind to listen to our body - Our body speaks to us in whispers until we face injury. And then pain can roar with an intensity that we cannot ignore. How can we tune in to our body's voice if our thoughts are foremost in our consciousness and taking our mind right off the mat? Yin Yoga cultivates an environment of quiet space for our mind to switch gear and slow down. The Yin Yoga studio becomes a place where we can begin to tune into stillness of mind and sensations of body.

Approaching a Yin hold - The instruction in a yin class provides suggestions to move into a particular posture which will target a key area, such as the hips.

People in the class will move to assume that shape, or a variation of it, using props where needed. Once settled into the posture, the shape is held in stillness for up to 1 to 5 minutes, sometimes longer. In that posture, often the first physical reaction will be for the muscles to tense up as an automatic protection for ligaments and joints, especially if we've had previous injuries in that area. When the body assesses it is safe, the muscles ease off and access is granted to reach the deeper connective tissue fibres. Over the long, slow hold these connective tissue fibres can start detangling and regain their smooth gliding potential evidenced in youthful connective tissues. Over time the body learns to trust this process and yields more readily to the Yin state of ease and preparation – an anticipation of quietened atmospheric cues, soft music, dimmed lights, and support through bolsters, blankets, blocks and straps.

In Yin, we should begin a posture to about 20 - 50% of our full potential. This very subtle level of sensation can be difficult to achieve as we are typically conditioned to sensation addiction and quite dislocated from our fine level of feeling. It could be argued that getting fixated with percentages misses the point of feeling one’s way into a shape, taking into account both the unique physical and emotional landscape that each person brings to their practice. Such language as ‘feel’ of course is not quantifiable and requires a sense of being present to the felt experience of now, which ultimately is the whole point of practicing yoga. However understanding the mechanism of how Yin Yoga operates may increase the awareness of how far to go when finding your First Edge.

The following questions may provide a useful check list:

Looking for space in body and mind. Am I so distracted by holding the shape that my mind is engaged in maintaining the shape and I feel tense? Ease up and go to less depth.
Once the muscle fibres have loosened their grip, is there more room to soften into or have I gone to my maximum immediately? Ease up and go to less depth.
Can I hold this shape with a sense of comfort for up to 5 minutes or am I already beginning to fidget and get distracted? Ease up and go to less depth.
Am I experiencing any sharp pain? A definitive sign to immediately exit the posture and either try a modification or seek assistance from the teacher.

Playing the edges - Bernie Clark, founder of Yin Yoga, uses the Goldilocks analogy to depict how far to explore in a yin hold, that is not too deep, not too shallow, but just right. Each person comes to a Yin class with a different body and different set of circumstances motivating their participation. Sometimes the physical reasons are foremost and other times emotional states are the reason. Either way these two states are different sides of the same coin with each state influencing the other.

Physical: If physical ailments such as a bad back, tight hamstrings, stiff hips or concrete shoulders have been the main motivator for getting to a Yin class, then awareness of these physical realities is advantageous as you approach holds with caution and natural gentleness.

Emotional: If emotional responses such as stress, anxiety, heartache or depression have primarily been the reason for attending a Yin class then an understanding regarding emotional edges means caution can be exercised when approaching a yin hold.

The rule of thumb being only to go to a space where it feels safe and comfortable to do so. After practicing Yin over an extended time these barriers can be gently pushed and blockages tentatively explored.

This concept is beautifully depicted in an adaptation of Christopher Logue’s poem Come to the Edge;

“Come to the edge,” he said.

“No – it’s too high,” I said.

“Come to the edge,” he said.

“No – I might fall,” I said.

“COME to the edge,” he said.

So I came to the edge

And he pushed me

And I flew