“I could never do that.”
That’s what people often say when they see a photo of someone in a deep forward fold or resting in stillness for minutes at a time.
And I get it.
Yoga can sometimes look a bit intimidating from the outside — especially if you’ve never considered yourself “flexible” or if you think your mind is too busy to slow down.
The truth is, I often hesitate before posting a photo like this of myself. It can feel vulnerable, even a little daunting to share something that looks so out of reach.
As a child, I didn’t grow up doing gymnastics or ballet. I came to yoga later, as an adult — stiff in places, curious, and quietly hoping it might help me feel more connected to my body.
This level of flexibility happened through patience, gentle persistence, and practice — the kind of practice that Deep Stretch Yin Yoga encourages. It’s not about achieving a certain shape or touching your toes. It’s about softening. Slowing down. Creating space in the body and mind — often for the first time in a long while.
Unlike other styles of yoga that are more dynamic or fast-moving, Yin is slow. Purposefully so. We take shapes and we stay — sometimes for three, five, even ten minutes. It’s less about stretching, and more about softening. Less about striving, more about surrendering.
In Yin, we work with the deep connective tissues — the fascia, joints, and ligaments — through stillness and time. That can sound passive, but it’s anything but. Holding a shape quietly, without shifting or fidgeting, invites a whole different kind of awareness. You begin to notice what arises: tension, thoughts, emotions, sensations… and slowly, you learn how to meet it all with presence.
It’s not about achieving a pose. There are no gold stars for touching your toes.
It’s about showing up, just as you are — tight hips, busy mind, aching knees and all — and learning to be with yourself in that moment.
And while Yin can absolutely support flexibility and mobility, the deeper gift (for me at least) is what it offers mentally and emotionally: space. Space to feel, to breathe, to just be — without the need to perform or improve.
I often describe Yin as the quiet counterbalance to our very yang, very “go-go-go” lives.
In a world that encourages us to do more, Yin gently reminds us that rest is not a luxury — it’s essential.
So if you’ve ever thought, “I’m not flexible enough for yoga,” I’d love you to know:
You don’t need to be.
You just need an open mind, a bit of patience, and maybe a couple of cushions.
There’s a place here for every body.
Deep Stretch Yin Yoga Summer Series – 3 Weeks of Deep Release
Join me for a gentle 3-week Yin Yoga mini-series this summer — perfect for anyone new to the practice or looking for a slower pace.
Each week we’ll focus on a different part of the body:
✨ Week 1 (starts this Sunday): Hips & Lower Body
✨ Week 2: Spine & Side Body
✨ Week 3: Upper Body, Shoulders & Heart Space
📍 Crick Community Sports Centre, Yelvertoft Road, Crick NN6 7TF
🗓 Sundays 20 July, 27 July and 3 August | 9.30am–10.30am
🌿 No experience or flexibility needed — just a willingness to slow down.
🔗 Book here.