Let’s Clear Something Up
When you hear “Yin,” you might picture candles, floaty music, and maybe even a cheeky nap.
Lovely, sure. But let’s get real: that’s not Yin. Not the way it was taught to me, and not the way I’ll ever teach it. 😉
This watered-down idea of Yin — a bit of stretching, a bit of chilling — is another example of yoga being soft-soaped into “feel good for five minutes.” Spoiler alert: that feeling doesn’t last.
Yes, on the surface Yin can look like you’re doing nothing. Nobody’s moving. Ha! But don’t be fooled. Get the right teachings and Yin is about empowerment. Discipline. Courage. Staying put when every fibre of you wants to wriggle out. And doing it with stillness, simplicity, and space to feel.
Hatha can show you that too. But Yin, with its longer holds, gives you the time to dive deeper — mentally, emotionally, energetically. Blankets might be around, but cosy isn’t the point. Real is.
Why I Care
I’ve seen Yin squashed into 45-minute gym slots. No context, no teachings, rushed to the point students leave lukewarm. Not their fault — but not the practice either.
That kills me. People turn up to learn and get short-changed. And while I don’t blame individual teachers (though bending to corporate “bums-on-mats” pressure is, frankly, sketchy), I do blame the system. Quick fixes. Five-minute hacks. “Yoga for busy mums.”
Bollocks to that. 🙄🤭
Snacks are tasty, but they don’t nourish you. Yin is a full meal. And if you trust me as your teacher, it’s my job not to hand you scraps but to serve you the food that actually sustains.
But — you’ve got to say bollocks to the scraps too. It’s your body, your energy, your life. Step away from the buffet! 🤣
My Wake-Up Call
I get it. I used to think slow wasn’t for me either. Triathlons (the ultimate “look, I can do three things at once 🤣”), two kids, full-throttle career in journalism… Resting? Forget it.
But here’s what I learned the hard way: all the muscle and cardio you can flex in a mirror is only half the story. Your inner world needs care too. Maybe more.
That’s where Yin came in for me. Slowly. Deeply. Not on a corporate treadmill, but in rhythm with nature. And newsflash — we are nature. You can’t rush this.
What Yin Really Is
In Yin, you hold simple postures long enough (three minutes minimum) to slip beneath the surface. That’s when you stop tugging at muscles and start working with the fascia, joints, bones — and, when the practice honours tradition, the vayus, those subtle winds of energy.
Here’s a taste:
- Child’s Pose → Apana Vayu (downward current, letting go).
- Banana Asana → Vyana Vayu (lateral expansion).
- Sphinx → Samana + Prana Vayu (assimilation + inward flow at the heart).
- Twists + Apana Asana → Integration (digest, seal the energy).
These aren’t just shapes. They’re doorways. Into memory, energy, and the parts of yourself you usually outrun.
As my teacher Octavio Salvado reminds us: the body is the temple, but the energy is the deity within. Yin gives you the time to actually meet it.
Why Yin Demands Courage
Yin can be uncomfortable. Your mind nags. Your body twitches. Emotions bubble up you’d rather push down. But that’s the point.
The practice is staying. Witnessing. Not fleeing. That’s tapas — discipline in action.
And the payoff is lasting. You walk out clearer, steadier, freer. Not because you sidestepped discomfort, but because you proved to yourself you could hold it. That’s the self-respect piece most people are missing.
Why Now
We live in a culture addicted to more, more, more. Yin is the brake.
One of my best friends — a corporate powerhouse, total goal-crusher — stepped into our 40-Day Rest on Purpose Sadhana inside the YL App. For her, it’ll feel awful. Too slow. Too exposed. But if she sticks it out? It’ll be the best medicine she’s ever given herself.
So if stillness feels impossible? That’s your sign. It’s probably exactly what you need.
The Takeaway
So next time you see Yin on the timetable or in the YL Vault, don’t roll your eyes and think “nap-time yoga.”
It’s not that. It’s real yoga.
It’s the work of meeting yourself — raw, unfiltered.
And it will change you, if you let it.
Josie x
💬 Where do you notice the most resistance — in your body, your mind, or your schedule? Share below. Naming it can help loosen its grip.
If this resonates with you join the YL membership. All the details here. We work with a Yin practice specifically on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
