I bet that melting into a passive stretch for 1 to 8 minutes is not what comes to mind when you think about optimising your fitness plan. Yin Yoga is the rebel of fitness on so many different levels. It is the opposite of most yoga and fitness classes out there and in my humble opinion, the most underrated. As most workouts are about tightening, squeezing and flexing. Yin yoga is all about opening, lengthening and letting go. Even the names for some of the poses are different.
A very common misconception is that it is exactly like restorative yoga. Though similar in its more passive pace and ability to heal and restore the body, it does require a particular amount of strain and effort. It is truly the art of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. Let’s break down why I find it so awesome.
- It’s a first class ticket to bigger muscles
By stretching your muscles you stretch the fascia allowing more room for the muscles to grow. Yin Yoga class is perfect for this purpose since it is the ultimate stretching session, holding each pose for a long period of time, it allows your body time to go deep into each asana without forcing it and simply letting gravity do the job. Moreover, deep stretching heals the muscle faster getting you back to the gym sooner than later. I recommend attending a yin class post any weight lifting session to maximise muscle strength and muscle growth.
- Helps with other yoga styles
To simply put this, if you can hold pigeon pose (swan in yin yoga) for 3 to 5 minutes you can hold pigeon for 30 seconds or less in a faster pace class such as Vinyasa or Ashtanga. Yin Yoga gently targets the connective tissue which help connect muscle and bone. This increases flexibility, range of motion and real eves tightness. Flowing from asana to asana will feel effortless or at the very least easier.
- It’s like a massage but cheaper
I can not emphsize enough how good yin yoga makes me feel. It’s as though someone reaches into your sore muscles and streches every last part. Now I love a good massage but they are expensive for those of us with no insurence. Youtube is filled with easy to follow Yin Yoga classes and you can do it in the comfort of your own home. Most yoga studios have yin yoga classes and I highly recomend trying a live class at least once.
Even though some of the poses can feel uncomfortable in the moment depending on flexibility level, it will leave you feeling as though you just had the best massage ever. Morover it elevelates stress, boosts your mood, leaves you feeling light and ready to take on the day.
4. Aids with digestion AKA makes you poop
Lets face it, it’s imposible to feel good about yoursel while dealing with digestive woes. Bloating, constipation, upset stomach, it all sucks.
Yin yoga stimulates the digestive system, lets just say it moves things along if you catch my drift. Spinal twists in particular do wonders for a stoburn tummy and they feel so good on your back. Which brings me to the weightloss of it all. Do I recomend practicing yin in particular for losing weight? Absolutely not, however it can speed up the process along with a healthy diet and exersises plan.
5. Teaches patiance
As I mentioned before, yin yoga is the art of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. You may find yourself silently cursing out the yoga teacher as you sit in frogs position for 5 minutes.
Relax, she says, and you give her an imaginary midle finger in your mind. Why is this good???? Because it teaches us that good things take time. It prepares you for stressfull situations and changes how you handle them. It will allow you to take that breath before you flip out in trafic or a long grocery lineup. The catch here is that the more you practise Yin Yoga, the more you will love these poses. You will find yourself looking forward to doing something which was once stressfull and that is a powerfull feeling.
Conclusion
Allow Yin Yoga to serve as your secret weapon in your fitness and wellness arsenal for better digestion, muscle growth, stress relief and piece of mind. It will at the very least present you with a different perspective on how Yoga should be practised and this is why Yin Yoga is the rebel of fitness land.
If you want to level up your Blogging game, check out the link below for FREE and affordable Blogging courses with Lucrezia and Marina!
https://school.bloggingfornewbloggers.com/courses/?affcode=223291_ohro7kfl
Words in Flight 
Leave a comment