“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
I’m not flexible—Can I still practise Yin Yoga?
Yes! You are a perfect candidate for Yin Yoga. There is a common misconception that you need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons. Come as you are and you will find that, over time, Yin Yoga will help you increase your range of motion, as well as give you an overall sense of well-being.
How is Yoga different from stretching or other kinds of fitness?
Unlike stretching or fitness activities, yoga is more than just physical postures. The physical practice is just one aspect of yoga. Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. Connecting the mind, body and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognise our habitual thought patterns without judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or a goal to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind
Doesn’t Yin Yoga overstretch ligaments and destabilise joints?
In Yin Yoga, the intention is to safely and moderately stress our joints to promote the health of the tissues in and around our joints—not to overly lengthen these tissues. There might be some confusion about the difference between ‘stress’ and ‘stretch’. Stress is force applied to something, in this case our joint tissue. Stretch is the subsequent lengthening that occurs due to the stress placed on that tissue. But not all stress causes stretch. In Yin, great care is given to observing the kinds of sensations one experiences, emphasising the mild end of the sensation spectrum—not pushing, pulling or striving to go deeper, and always avoiding any signal of pain. Practised intelligently, Yin Yoga is a tissue-specific exercise, and shouldn't be approached with the mindset of ‘more is better’. Of course, as with any yoga style, people might override the alarm signals of pain and end up injured. Intention and awareness are key to safe practice, no matter the style.
What do I need to begin practising Yin Yoga?
All you really need to begin practising Yin Yoga is your body, your mind and a bit of curiosity. But it is also helpful to have a pair of yoga leggings, shorts or tracksuit pants, and a t-shirt (not too baggy, though). During the cooler months, please wear layers and something warm; some people may either sweat or feel a chill due to the movement of internal energy, but you won’t generate any heat through muscular activity. No special footgear is required because you will be barefoot (or wearing socks). At the Home Studio or for most private sessions at your home or workplace, mats and other props are provided; please bring your own yoga mat to group classes held at other venues. Try to refrain from eating 2-3 hours before class.
Why are you supposed to refrain from eating 2–3 hours before class?
In yoga practice we twist from side to side, turn upside down, and bend forward and backward. If you have not fully digested your last meal, it will make itself known to you in ways that are not comfortable. If you are a person with a fast-acting digestive system and are afraid you might get hungry or feel weak during yoga class, experiment with a light snack such as yogurt, a few nuts or juice about 30 minutes to an hour before class.
How many times a week should I practise?
Even if you only practise Yin Yoga for one hour a week, you will experience some benefits. The real benefits of the practice, however, are felt with repetition and regularity. I encourage my students to cultivate a home practice, in which they might eventually do even just a couple of postures every day. To start with, I suggest practising with a teacher once or twice a week. When you feel confident, you can explore more on your own at home. Don't let time constraints or unrealistic goals be an obstacle—do what you can and don't worry about it. You will likely find that after a while your desire to practise expands naturally and you will find yourself doing more and more.
I’m pregnant—Can I still practise Yin Yoga?
Yes! During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin is produced, relaxing ligaments to prepare the birth canal for delivery. In Yin Yoga, mothers-to-be are cued not to go past their normal ranges of motion, to not try to increase their ranges of motion. Yin Yoga also offers various modifications to accommodate a growing baby. For example: using more props, and no deep twisting or compression on the abdomen. Also, during Savasana you would lie on your left side, not on your back, to avoid pressure on the vena cava vein. You can put a pillow between your knees and/or under your belly for support. All told, many expectant mothers find the gentle stimulation of Yin releases aches and tensions, and smooths their energy flow.
YOGA PROPS
Do I need to buy actual yoga props to practise Yin Yoga?
While it's perfectly possible to practise most Yin Yoga poses without any props, you will at the very minimum need a couple of blocks, a thick blanket and a strap of some sort. Often you can improvise and use things you already have in the house as props, instead of spending money. I have used my bathrobe belt as a strap. Cushions or pillows make great bolsters, or you can use them instead of blocks. You can use any blankets or large towels you have in the house; these can be rolled up to use as a bolster. You don’t even need a mat to practise Yin or Restorative Yoga; a thick blanket or two (or towels) will suffice (as long as your knees are protected and you feel comfortable).
Due to COVID-19, please equip yourself with the following (or equivalent), once you are certain you will continue coming to Pure Yin Yoga classes:
2 x foam yoga blocks (preferably avoid cork or wooden blocks, as they are quite hard)
1 x bolster
1 x thick blanket (or 2, if you enjoy lying on one on top of your mat)
1 x yoga strap, preferably with a buckle (the taller you are, the longer you'll need. Mine are about 2.5m and are suitable for people who are over 6-foot tall). You can always join two shorter straps together, if necessary.
1 x yoga mat
An eye pillow is also a nice optional extra.
It might seem a lot, but if you store everything in a large bag, you can just grab it on your way to class. You'll also be set up to start that home practice you've been meaning to get underway.
Where can I buy props for my home or safe studio practice?
If you wish to buy props, shops such as Kmart and Target have mats, blocks and straps, which can be bought individually or sometimes even in little yoga starter kits. These can usually be bought in-store or online. I have recently seen that IKEA sells bolsters for $40. You can buy them here. Kmart also sells oval bolsters for $19 here.
Below are a few Australian-based online shops that sell yoga props to consumers:
The props I use are the MANDUKA brand: