Yin Yoga: Worth a Second Look

Workout fads seem to come and go faster than top songs on the radio, however a recent development in the realm of yoga just might be worth a second look. The up and coming Yin Yoga features poses in the sitting or lying down position that are held for ten minutes at a time. Yin Yoga classes are a much slower pace than the more well-known hatha and vinyasa styles. Hatha yoga involves poses held for a minute or so, while vinyasa involves a series of repeated poses that cycle through standing, sitting, and laying poses with transitional movements at a much faster pace. Yin Yoga on the other hand involves a few poses held for long periods of time, while students are asked to relax their minds, and allow gravity to do the stretching for them.

This new method has numerous health benefits. While it innately can increase your flexibility and mobility, it also has mental benefits as well. It is difficult to picture anyone who wouldn’t profit from the mental clarity of clearing their mind and concentrating on their body for a set amount of time. The practice of Ying Yoga has also proven beneficial to those suffering from sports related injuries, and those suffering with broken or damaged tissue in association with the aging process. The exercise works the fascia, or your connective tissue, which acts like a webbed structure holding your organs and muscles in place. The fascia is vital to maintaining your central mobility, and the actions preformed during Yin Yoga allow for gentle tension to be placed on it. In turn, this can increase your range of motion, while simultaneously making your connective tissue stronger and more resistant to damage or breakage as you age.

It is important to discuss any exercise modification, or the addition of any new forms of exercise with your physician before attempting them. However this seems to be one worth discussing.