There are different types and practices of yoga, which can be difficult to keep up to date with and can be confusing at times… anyone for Hot Yoga or how about Aerial?

Here at Elevate Yoga we have created this short guide to Yin Yoga and why it is beneficial to you. And the information below will teach you all you need to know for the upcoming Yin Training by Hugh Lee.

So, let’s get started!

What is Yin Yoga?

Put simply, Yin is less postures but longer holds. Yin Yoga is a slow-paced and meditative practice, where you hold postures from anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes. These postures are primarily floor based, that can help lengthen your muscles and will also work opening joints, ligaments and fascia.

By not moving as often as you would in a regular yang style yoga class, this gives you the time to find your edge (the point where you feel a significant resistance) in each posture and then focus your attention on your breath or the sensations in your body. This brings a meditative element to Yin.

How open will Yin make us?

Imagine doing a forward fold. You may look very different to your yoga class neighbour. Has this ever made you wonder, “how long will it take to do that?” The answer may be never, and this is because you’ve reached your maximum range where bone is hitting bone.

Don’t worry, you are no less of a yogi!

Yin Yoga teaches us to look at how our bones, not just our muscles, affect our range of motion.

Everyone knows we can have tight muscles, and of course that does affect your yoga practice. But in the end, your individual skeletal body determines how far you can go before hitting ‘bone against bone,’ stopping you from going any further.

This practice targets specific areas. It softens the muscles, ligaments, deep connective tissues and joints before giving you the ability to ease out existing tension, enabling the development of movement.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Yoga

The human body, mind and spirit spectrum is believed to be holistic, and is a fundamental principle of the Chinese system of medicine. This system also says that diseases manifest as an outcome of an imbalance within oneself, or in your relationship to the external reality, such as your environment or family.

Yin Yoga is a big part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. These poses force your body to increase pressure on body tissues. Once released, your meridian, which is a vast network of invisible energy pathways in your body, gets stimulated and rids itself of any energetic inactivity within it.

Who is Hugh Lee?

Hugh Lee is an experienced and qualified Yoga Teacher that has been teaching since 2008. He frequently assisted and co-taught with Andrew Mournehis in different Yoga retreats in Bali, India and Australia. As a graduate of the Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching from the Centre for Adult Education, Lee has trained with many notable Yin Yoga teachers such as Paul and Suzee Grilley, and Sarah Powers.

He still receives mentoring from the qualified and experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, Becky Andrews.

How did Yin Yoga help Hugh Lee?

After two decades of suffering with depression and anxiety, Lee turned to meditation and yoga to assist him on his journey to healing. His progress, which led to him no longer suffering from episodes of depression, inspired him to start his training and become a student of meditation and Yin Yoga.

Hugh Lee is incredibly passionate about Mindfulness and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which he uses as tools to heal from digestive issues, anxiety and adrenal fatigue.

Join Elevate Yoga’s Upcoming Yin Yoga Teacher Training course in March!

This course is open to anyone, from teachers to students, so don’t be afraid to come along! You will learn about the theory and understand the practice of Yin Yoga, get taught the basics of yoga anatomy, and experience meditative mindfulness in Yin Yoga. You will also get taught the fundamentals of Chinese Medicine and its link to this yoga practice. The teachers will learn different variations to teach their students and how to formulate relevant class themes. Check out our website or contact us for more details!

Our Black Rock studio services just some of the Bayside suburbs of Beaumaris, Sandringham, Hampton, Highett, Mentone and Cheltenham.


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