Yin Yoga is so much more than a physical practice. Delving into the layers of Yin Yoga Practice is a way to become more aware of what you receive during your time on the mat. So let’s take a look!

what are THE LAYERS OF YIN YOGA PRACTICE?

1. PHYSICAL
2. ENERGETIC
3. EMOTIONAL
4. MEDITATIONAL

THE PHYSICAL LAYER

The first connection to your Yin Yoga practice is physical. Put simply, you experience physical sensation when you place your body into a shape. The “target area” of the pose is where you’re aiming to find the sensation.

THE ENERGETIC LAYER

Spending time in a shape in stillness, moving past the physical sensation you initially receive – you can connect to more subtle elements. Yin Yoga is a practice which stimulates our Subtle Body -the Meridian System.

THE EMOTIONAL LAYER

Our third layer of Yin Yoga Practice is all about the feels… the emotions. Our physical and subtle bodies store our experiences. This layer of your experience on the mat is a beautiful way to observe and release.

THE MEDITATIONAL LAYER

This is the layer of space. The presence and acceptance of all you are receiving -without the attachment to feeling it. Meditation appears in your Yin practice as true connection; to self, and to source.

Observing the layers of Yin Yoga in your practice

How do the layers appear in your practice? This is in the observation – staying curious in your time on the mat is a great way to observe these layers. You can ask gentle questions of yourself during a shape. for example:

• “where do I feel physical sensation in this shape?”
• “is there a sensation I’m experiencing in my body that isn’t familiar?”
• “how do I feel? is there a significant emotion rising…?”

TOP TIP: It can be really useful to have a journal or notebook near you when practicing Yin Yoga -noting what you receive. Our Director Hayley likes to call this Yinformation…

Why these are Layers -and not Levels…

You may think these layers are an indication of how ‘advanced’ your Yin practice is… and in some ways there’s truth in that.

The first few times you experience Yin Yoga, it’s likely that what you’re feeling (or what your awareness is consumed by) is the physical layer.

These layers, are discovered in awareness; just as easily as when they completely surprise us. Like the time you just burst into tears for no apparent reason… or feel irritated or angry… or discover a whole period of time where you’ve just drifted into complete nowhere.

The magic of the layers of yin…

This magic is in the experience -matched with the awareness and observation of your time on the mat.

Experiencing magic, is all in the welcoming.

So how do we experience these layers?

Welcoming your time on the mat, with curiosity and an open heart is a sure way to experience all of these layers at some point. Be patient with your practice, and remove the expectation or judgement.

Each day, every time we roll out the mat -is an opportunity to discover more about ourselves. Ready to try some Yin Yoga? click here to check out our new YouTube Channel and have a go!