Yin yoga is a quiet therapeutic practice. 

Quiet because we are looking for  stillness within each pose.Therapeutic as we get the freedom and responsibility to adapt each pose to our individual needs and circumstances. Yin yoga is a bridge between action and stillness, between movement and meditation. Although we are looking for an appropriate amount of sensation, we want to relax and surrender to the shape and moment.We put our body in a safe position,usually on the floor,aiming for a sensation of tension ( stretching).Then we just wait for the tissue,the breath and our soul to soften. In the minutes during which our physical body become still,we are left alone with ourself. Nobody can really tell us what is best for us,when to change pose,when to get deeper  or come out of the pose.The invitation is to feel and listen,befriend ourselves full- heartedly and make wise choices when necessary.

 

When we practice yin yoga it is essential,for ourselves and others,to create a safe space where all sensations and emotions are welcome: be it peaceful surrender  and deep relaxation ,pain,anger and resistance,or sudden awareness of the past events that have not been appropriately addressed yet.It is important to remember that this our personal practice,with total freedom to make our own decisions, to adapt a pose,to stay,to move or to choose a totally different pose instead.  

 

- Mirjam Wagner: Yin for life