I hope this message finds you well? Autumn is well and truly with us, dark and rainy and definitely time to start getting cosy!
Next month I am running my first Yin and Nidra session. I trained in both of these back in 2020, and they are practices I really love. Yin yoga is a gorgeously nurturing yoga practice that works to ease tension from the body by gently holding poses for an extended length of time.
You have probably heard about yin and yang and recognise the famous symbol, the yang is the outward looking high energy, and the yin is the slower, quieter inward energy. Think the difference between practicing a sun salutation (outward, masculine energy, yang) and a moon salutation (inward, feminine energy, yin). We all, regardless of our gender, have both feminine and masculine energy and it is important to balance and nurture both!
As such a yin class is slow, nurturing and introspective. It stretches and releases tension from the body in a different way to a standard yoga practice. This is because the practice is designed to work with the fascia of our body – our fascia is a fascinating part of our body, essentially every part of our body is joined and surrounded by fascia (or connective tissue) and in fact if you removed literally everything else from the body and there was just fascia left, you would have a recognisably human form. So, suffice to say there is a lot of fascia in the body! For centuries scientists decided it was just “there” and served no purpose. But of course nothing in our body serves no purpose. It is through the fascia that electrical impulses are sent around the body, and it is often the fascia that causes us to be stiff in the mornings – when we stretch in the morning we at least partially release the fascia. Think of how a cat stretches after a nap – they are doing the same thing!
A yin yoga practice works deeply into the body, releasing tension held not just in muscles but also in the fascia. It is linked into Chinese medicine practices so works with different meridians in the body as well to help balance your energy. These meridians are linked to the seasons and help align us to what our body requires in each season.
In yin the poses are named differently to our usual asana to mark the difference in how they are approached, as we hold them for a longer time we hold them in a less intense, more considered way. Say we take a wide angled forward fold (named dragonfly pose in yin yoga!) we need to be able to stay in the pose for between 3 and 5 minutes, so the pose needs to be approached with longevity in mind, this is all about finding your “edge” which is the place where the pose can be felt in a positive way without it becoming uncomfortable. Thus we get the huge bonus of all the poses benefits over a prolonged period of time.
So, if you feel like this is something your body and mind would appreciate then please join us for our first Yin and Nidra evening! Friday Relax and Unwind on October 11th at Earley Crescent Resource Centre 615 – 8pm. Surrounded by fairy lights and candles we will take yin yoga to support us in letting go of what we do not need to carry forward in the season of Autumn. Gentle, nurturing and inclusive, we will hold poses for between 3 to 5 minutes, but don’t worry, I won’t just leave you hanging there! I will let you know how long there is left, there will be some pranayama (breath work), beautiful, relaxing quiet music, and there will be the odd short reading or quote for the mind to work on with whilst we are in our poses.
This will be followed by a Yoga Nidra – Yoga Nidra is a very lovely form of extended guided meditation. All you need to do is make yourself comfortable with a blanket and cushion and allow my voice wash over you, it is a practice of being, not doing, so you have nothing to do but rest and relax! Research shows it actually shifts your brain waves to a more rested state. It also activates our parasympathetic nervous system which in turn lowers stress, reduces anxiety and improves our general well being. In all it is a lovely, restful end to any yoga session! If you fancy trying one out then check out my previous blog post where I have left a recording of a Yoga Nidra for Autumn. Recordings of Yoga Nidras are lovely, a really valuable tool for your self care kit, but nothing beats an in person Nidra, they are so deeply relaxing and can offer deep insight and clarity as well as deep rest.
After this there will be home made cookies to enjoy before heading out into the autumn night.
If it feels like you would like to nourish yourself and care for your body, mind and soul with Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra then simply head to the events and classes page and select Friday Rest and Unwind!
With love,
Emma x
(Emma runs Emma’s Yoga Hut in Earley. A tiny garden studio for small group yoga tuition. She is a yoga student and yoga teacher and has practiced yoga for nearly 30 years. She trained with the Traditional Yoga Association right here in Reading between 2016 and 2018 to achieve her 500 hour yoga teaching accreditation. She has additional teaching qualifications in Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra. She is an accredited Sound Bath Facilitator and specialises in crystal singing bowls. She teaches Chair Yoga classes at local community centres where there is often coffee and a chat after class. She is passionate about getting the beautiful benefits of yoga out to as many people as possible, Emma tries her best to practice yoga every day, in a fluffy jumper as it gets colder!)
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