What is Yin Yoga?
Yin is like the slow, soulful sibling of more dynamic styles of yoga. Instead of flowing quickly from pose to pose, you sink into the shapes and stay there—typically for 3-5 minutes. These longer holds gently target your deeper connective tissues, like fascia and joints, while giving your mind and body a chance to settle and soften.
A Functional Approach
In many yoga spaces, there’s a strong emphasis on aesthetics—working toward an idealized version of each pose. And isn’t that just part of being human? We often focus on the destination. But this mindset can leave people feeling excluded or discouraged. How often have we heard, “I can’t do yoga; I’m not flexible enough?”
In Yin, we take a different approach—we focus on the journey. It’s not about achieving a picture-perfect pose, but about tuning into how it feels in your body. The focus is functional, not aesthetic, meeting you where you are with the support of props to accommodate your body’s unique structure and needs.
Working with Sensation
In Yin, we move into our shapes mindfully, creating sensation in the intended area of the body—but not so much that we lose the ability to relax. Rather than avoiding sensations, Yin invites us to gently soften into them with curiosity and compassion. It’s a way of working with the edges of our comfort zone in a gentle, loving way.
As we hold each shape, we explore what lies beneath the surface—the busy mind, the stories we carry, and the emotions that arise. It’s a practice of mindfulness that deepens our awareness of our inner landscape and how we hold ourselves. In doing so, we create space for healing and resilience.
Why Yin Yoga?
Let’s be real: modern life has us running at full speed most of the time. Our nervous systems are in overdrive, our bodies hurt, anxiety is high, we don't sleep well, and we rarely take time to just be. Yin Yoga offers a chance to slow down, which is crucial for balancing all that activity.
Here’s how it helps:
• Physically: It improves flexibility and joint health by gently targeting the deeper connective tissues.
• Mentally: It calms the mind, reduces stress, and creates space for reflection.
• Energetically: It helps clear and balance the body’s energy pathways.
My Personal Journey with Yin Yoga
The stillness of Yin was really challenging for my very active, anxious, and easily distracted ADHD brain at first. At times, it felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. But over time and with practice, I have found the longer holds and intentional focus on one thing at a time to be like a release valve for the pressures of completing everything on my to-do list. It’s like, “Oh, I only have this one thing to focus on right now, and I can relax and breathe.” In those moments, it feels like everything around me slows down. Now, I find Yin practice to be soothing and supportive, and I'm learning to slow down and truly connect with what’s going on inside my body—and that has made a big difference for me.
What to Expect in My Yin Yoga Classes
My goal is to create a brave space for connection, exploration, and healing. My classes are super chill and accessible for all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or someone who hasn’t touched their toes in years, you’re welcome here.
We’ll start with a grounding moment—a chance to breathe, check in, and arrive on your mat. From there, we’ll ease into a series of shapes designed to target different areas of body. I’ll offer lots of modifications and props to make the poses work for your body.
Expect a mix of gentle guidance with plenty of quiet time to explore your inner landscape, with maybe a nugget or two of mindfulness or my own personal reflections sprinkled in. We’ll end with Savasana, so you leave feeling rested and ready to move into the rest of your day with ease.
Ready to Try Yin Yoga?
I’d love for you to join me for my monthly Yin Yoga classes in the Yurt-a warm and wonderful space for healing and connection.
I’ll see you in the yurt!
Click here for dates and registration details.
Deanna McDevitt
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