Why is Yin Yoga so Popular?

“Yoga reveals to you the beauty of mindfulness and takes you into the essence of an endless present moment.”

– Debasish Mridha

What is Yin actually

Yin comes from the Tao concept and symbol (Yin and Yang), that represents the opposite or harmonising (depends on yr perspective) forces of nature .

Yin is often described as the feminine (which can confuse people because we relate feminine to gender and as we are discovering both principles of the ancient Tao are present in each gender). I prefer to keep it non gender based and call it the Creative principle.

It contains forces of nature that are considered to oppose the yang. But, are in fact harmonising if understood correctly, or felt into, as it were. Here are some main attributes of the yin principles:

1. Feminine: Energy opposite of masculine (yang) energy. Feminine described hereafter…
2. Creative: Yin energy is active (yang inactive). It manifest and builds up, bursting forth into creativity, urging yang energy into action.
3. Passive: Yin is responsive, welcoming and receptive.
4. Intuitive: Yin energy holds the inner insights and understanding of life. The unseen knowings.
5. Dark/Night: The night brings a time of rest and darkness. The yin is the black part of the yin and yang symbol.
6. Moon: The Yin energies on Earth’s are effected by the moon movements and phases. of the moon.
7. Agreeable: Yin energy brings balance against the dominant energy of the yang principle.
8. Condensing: The expanding energy of yang is pulled in when balanced by yin’s condensing force.
9. Downward Moving: The yin always seeks a downward movement. Bringing balance rising tides etc..
10. Stillness: With downward energy there is a stillness and quietude.

Yin yoga is based on movement and principles from both China’s Taoist and India’s ‘Hatha’ yoga philosophies and practices.

What is Yoga actually

I will keep it simple here because my yang side is wanting to expand and my yin side is saying ‘Less is more”.

Yoga translates as ‘to join’; to unite. It refers to the union of the body/mind with the Atman, the soul. Or for those who don’t resonate with the soul, The Creative Principle of nature and our being. The Tao.

I’m starting to see how Yin and Yoga go together and why it’s becoming popular.

Its restorative. Connecting. Harmonising. Beneficial.

Me, just now

Let me continue to ruffle the feathers of yoga for a moment. I feels it needs more inactive activeness to help us understand fully. So we do ‘Yoga’ to bring our bodies and minds into the greater expansive reality and to move into union of our divine nature.

Yoga postures help our bodies to soften, to relax, to strengthen and to bring our minds into balance. To prepare us for the Dyhana (the meditation) that helps us find the equilibrium with the Creative principle, or the Atman.

So Why is Yin Yoga so Popular Today?

We live in a time of extreme population, extreme technological advances, climate change, war on everything and various other negative aspects. We are a fast paced and money orientated society and have lost connection with our bodies, our hearts and our truth. We have frightening suicide statistics and mental health has become a big industry without little real progress. Until now!

Let’s focus on the NOW!

Psychologists, scientists, and even some psychiatrists (that have moved into the 21st century) are now prescribing mindfulness, Asanas/excercise and meditation (Yogic and Taoist practices) as a basic necessary preventative and recovery modality. We have all seen the meme.

BECAUSE IT WORKS

But why specifically Yin Yoga Megsie?

Oh gee, I was starting to get into my Yin then, hoping I could lay in the Sun (Yang) and rejuvenate (Yin). But, I have a little energy left (and right).

As suggested the world has become imbalanced by the Yang aspect. People are busy, stressed and tired and are longing for more connection with thier Soul, thier Yin and thier true purpose for living on the planet.

JOY. LOVE. UNION.

So we need to get into more:

Relaxation

Yin helps us to be with sensation. To move slowly, focused, more present. This helps us to connect with what is happening in our body. To relax our body, which then helps our mind to relax. As we become slow in movement we deepen our time in a still state, in the spaces in between movement and thoughts.

It’s relaxing, in the spaces. It’s also were healing occurs. Like in deep sleep.

Strengthening Stillness

We can create longer periods of stopping the mind and the body while also being fully present, whilst still engaging movement. We are now enhancing strength and stillness alongside relaxation.

It’s good for the body

Various Yin yoga poses stimulate and dissolve blockages in the myofascial meridians in the body. This balances the body’s internal organs and systems. It also increases the bodies flexibility, working on the connective tissue, bringing more comfort to the body.

Inner Seeing

With a relaxed body, a quiet mind and a general sense of wellness and slowing down, we can feel into our inner seeing without the normal conflicts and obstacles in the way.

We open up a space for our bodies to communicate with our minds. Consciously.

As it’s not fast paced like some other Yoga models. We get into a presence that allows a movement between our souls and our minds as the body continues to move the chi.

Patience and Balance

Yin Yoga slows us down into a longer beautiful ‘being’ with our stretch; a slower movement of the whole system. And, therefore cultivates patience in us. We have all felt that moment when our body wants to move to another pose and the teacher says ‘ok now…” and You start breathing again… Well in Yin Yoga the only now is:

“A little bit longer..”

Here we get an opportunity to be receptive to what is happening for us. To be fully present and to strengthen our endurance (patience). As we do this more and more over time, it becomes habitual in our life and we start to return to a sense of harmony in our general living. We begin to seek more balance and those changes we were seeking become… more natural.

I suppose I could continue … But, I’ve been at the computer for too long, My body is getting sore. my shoulders tense, hurting. And, my mind is starting to short circuit and the only desire I have left is to Walk my Walk. Laying down in the Sun. Being Yin.

Slowly. Harmoniously. Naturally.

Warm Blessings

Megan

UPCOMING Yin YOGA RETREATS BALI

Women’s Yin Yoga and Tarot Retreats 2020

We have 4 retreats to choose from so far in 2020

5-8 Women in an intimate and safe environment

Daily Yoga & Meditation  | Local Healer visit  | Fire Ceremony | Art | Temple Visit  | Massage x 2 | Hiking 

Megan Jackson runs meditation and yoga retreats for women’s healing. She has been immersed in spiritual practice and study for 15 years, living it fully, with humility and compassion as her backbones for progress. She lives a quiet life reflecting on the dharma, being with nature and helping others who are wanting change, transformation or spiritual wisdom.

Join her on the Meditation, healing and Yoga retreats in Bali 2020

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