It’s the middle of May and we’re still deep into quarantine in Costa Rica.  I know most of the world is in the same boat, so to speak.  Now is more important than ever to focus on your personal wellness.  I would like to share with you a type of yoga practice that I’ve enjoyed throughout these crazy times that we’re living.  It’s called yin yoga.  What is yin yoga you ask?

Yin yoga is a slow form of yoga where you hold postures for long time – sometimes up to 10 minutes, but usually around 2-3 minutes.  In yin yoga you’re stretching the fascia, the thick bands of connective tissue that encase your muscles.  By spending serious time in the different poses, your muscles are coaxed to ease up from the constant firing and “on” position and simply get tired out and finally relax.  That tight fascia relaxes and the whole muscle can finally let go. 

Now, you might be picturing having to hold crazy poses like the splits or some difficult contortion but that’s not yin at all.  It is accessible to all levels.  In yin yoga, the use of props is encouraged, and you’re constantly encouraged to find the “sweetness” in the pose.  This basically means, how could I make this pose easier or gentler?  By not pushing to your edge, your body has somewhere to go, somewhere to relax into.  Think of a seated forward fold for example.  In this pose, you’re seated on the ground, with your legs out in front of you, and gently tipping forward.  Some people easily touch their toes.  I, on the other hand, have had tight hamstrings since birth and basically look like I’m sitting upright.  And yet, I feel it just as much as the person who might have their forehead on their shins and is holding their feet.  In yin yoga, it doesn’t matter how flexible or not you are.  You just get into the pose as best you can and sit with it.  This is a challenge.  Sometimes my brain likes to run.  Especially at the beginning.  However, as the class progresses, I find my mind, giving up the fight and finally relaxing into a quietness that is so peaceful.  Time begins to slow down and all those things on my to do list float away.  I find I enjoy just sitting there, breathing, and enjoying the feeling of the stretch. 

One of my longtime favorite places to find yin yoga is on YogaGlo online.  It is a wonderful platform that has a monthly subscription.  There is access to a lot of different classes and teachers.  There is everything from Power Vinyasa to Pilates to my favorite, Yin Yoga.  My favorite teacher is Felicia Tomasko.  I have followed so many of her classes now that I feel like we are friends – that if I saw her in the street I would have no problem walking up to her going, “Hi Felicia” and she would be like, who is this chica? 

Yin fits perfectly into my personal focus these days has been on what I call “The Undoing.”  I realized a few months ago that my life was so heavy on the doing side that I needed to find more balance.  Yin yoga is solidly on “The Undoing” side.  My nervous system finally gets to relax and I find myself taking relaxing deep sighs in class, happy to be practicing by myself in my house, and giving my body the well deserved stretch it needs after hours at the computer or surf. 

Even if you’re a yoga expert already, have fun switching it up and try something new.  I swear these yin classes have saved my lower back, hips, and shoulders.  Can’t wait to hear from you to see how you find these classes. 

Cheers!