The practice of yoga has skyrocketed thanks to the coronavirus pandemic as more people are turning to exercise options available at-home. Yoga is usually categorized as a holistic form of exercise. The practice considers improving both mind and body and an individual’s overall fitness level. For those who want to practice yoga but are looking for a gentler regimen, a great type of yoga to try is yin yoga. Here, Russell Herbert Jack – Southland native and yoga instructor – shares five benefits of this type of yoga.
Russell Herbert Jack, Southland Yoga Training founder and yoga teacher, says that yin yoga harmonizes with yang yoga, which is fast-paced and more aimed towards muscle and strength training. As the “yin” to its “yang,” yin yoga targets the tissue around the muscles, fascia, and connector tissues. Yin yoga is a slower practice that allows for meditation through its series of stretches, held for a more extended time than in a typical Hatha Yoga routine. Jack says that yin yoga has high health benefits, such as the ones he explains below.
Benefit #1: Better flexibility
Yin yoga uses a series of poses that stretch deep connective tissues. Flexibility increases through holding these stretching positions that enhance joint circulation and exercise joints and bones. The more practice one puts into yin yoga, the more flexible they can become.
Benefit #2: Relieve stress and tension
Yoga is an exercise that stimulates physical and mental growth, which is why it is such a great escape tool from stress and tension. Anxiety and stress run high already in our fast-paced society. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic, and see why more people are turning to peace finding practices such as yin yoga.
Benefit #3: Build perseverance
For those trying their first yin yoga class, be prepared to hold a yoga pose anywhere from three to ten minutes. Yin yoga helps to instill perseverance as it forces those who practice it to find comfort in even the positions that are the most uncomfortable to hold. The more you incorporate yin yoga into your daily routine, the more perseverance you will find to hold poses all the way through, which assists with integrating perseverance in other areas of your life.
Benefit #4: Start a meditation journey
Due to its extensive and gentler approach to yoga practice, yin yoga is an excellent way for anyone interested in meditation to start that journey. It is common to let thoughts overtake or feel certain waves of emotion during yin yoga since our mind always wonders. Practicing meditation while doing yin yoga will help lower your heart rate, breathing, and find peace of mind.
Benefit #5: Find balance
As mentioned earlier, yin yoga is the balancing practice to yang yoga. Yin yoga also holds other forms of balance as it helps balance internal organs. Specific poses help stimulate organs like the spleen, kidney, heart, lungs, and liver.
“As a yoga teacher who also embraces mindfulness, balance is required to achieve physical and mental harmony by developing a consistent practice,” said Russell Jack, Southland yoga expert.
About Russell Herbert Jack
Russell Herbert Jack is a founder of Southland Yoga Training in Invercargill, New Zealand. He is passionate about spirituality, the vegan lifestyle, animal rights, and living in sync with nature. Russell specializes in Vinyasa Yoga, Qigong, and guided meditations. Vinyasa yoga or flow yoga heightens consciousness by moving from one position to another seamlessly, using breath. Just like Vinyasa Yoga, Qigong has many healing properties to the body, mind, and spirit.
