How I got to a Yin practise.

It was Master Biff who introduced me to Yin Yoga. Yin is a practise of long holds, and the yang complement to it is almost a choreogrophy of yoga. The concept appealed to me. I knew that long holds were beneficial, but with the trend to Hatha, Ashtanga, and the “work up a sweat, burn your muscles” approach, it wasn’t a popular school of thought. I remember doing 2 minute holds when I took a yoga class at University of Hawaii in 1989. It was wonderful.

So, I went online, searched Yin Yoga, and bought CDs and books of Paulie Zink, Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Bernie Clark and of course, Biff Mithoeefer. But I put them aside while I was in training for Therapeutic Yoga, then the next year to Restorative Yoga. After that intense experience, I began to go back to YIN and saw it as a shadow part of any practice.

Recently, I took a few Tai Chi classes. Hmm, that was like putting a bumblebee in a Mason jar. However, in Tai Chi I saw the connection with Yin Yoga. I began thinking of the Yang side of Yin Yoga as a “fast Tai Chi.”

Then, when I couldn’t do an active pose, I started a Yin practice. Unfortunately, there are no Yin trained yoga teachers in my area. I studied Yin the way Yoga was for me “back in the day” of the 1960’s. I learned by doing—Ah! What a concept.

It’s a natural fit for me. I love it and soon I’ll be teaching a Yin/Yang Yoga class in Southport, NC at Heart Chakras on Howe Street. It will be a first journey inot Yin for many of my students.Because Yin is relatively unfamiliar, I’m going to post our journey together. Each week I will present an asana, I’ll review a publication, and answer any questions. I’ll add the “academic stuff,” resources for the online free stuff and let you know what events are happening in the Cape Fear area that may include either Yin, Therapeutic, Restorative or “good stuff” yoga related.

On Wednesday, I’ll be taking an idea from my daughter-in-law. She posts a “Wordless Wednesday” with just photos. I’ll be letting you know about other websites and blogs that you may be interested. So, come along.

We begin today.