joe barnett yoga

yin yoga

Yin Yoga is a very simple practice. We settle into an asana for 3-7 minutes and slowly relax our muscles to allow the deeper drier tissues–the connective tissues that wrap our muscles and make up our joint capsules–to be safely and therapeutically stretched, stimulated and strengthened.

The alignment rules of the postures are also simple, but more importantly they are functional and organic: We listen to our bodies and lead ourselves into the shape that follows the natural contours of our spine, pelvis and hips. However, bringing ourselves into this simplicity can be quite challenging. The practice of being still and quiet for minutes at a time can be trying enough, let alone while dropping into a powerful stretch that moves across wide sheets of fascia and drops deep into the ligaments of the joints. And listening to our bodies to find the natural alignment of the pose requires a power of discrimination, and an understanding and familiarity with the ever-changing sensations in the body.