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Dates now released for Deep Stretch Yin Classes in 2024!

I’m delighted to announce dates for my January, February and March Monthly ‘Deep Stretch Yin’ classes have now been released for 2024!

Experience the Serenity of Deep Stretch Yin

Life can get hectic, but Deep Stretch Yin classes offer a serene escape.

What’s Deep Stretch Yin?

Yin yoga gently enhances flexibility and mobility through deep stretches. Plus, I’ve added Neal’s Yard organic essential oils for an extra touch of tranquillity.

Benefits in a Nutshell

  • Improved Flexibility: Slow, sustained stretches enhance your body’s flexibility.
  • Boosted Circulation: Deep stretches improve blood flow for muscle recovery and relaxation.
  • Stress Relief: Find peace and mental clarity through my meditative practice.

Location

Join me at The Barn in Houlton for a blissful experience.

All Are Welcome

Whether you’re a complete beginner novice or experienced, you are welcome here.

Book Your Spot

All yin classes for 2023 are fully booked. Don’t miss out on this chance to prioritise self-care in 2024. Secure your spot in my Monthly Deep Stretch Yin classes today.

Read Up About My Most Recent Yin Class

Curious about what to expect? Why not read up about my most recent Yin class ? Get a taste of the serenity that awaits you.

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Discovering the Tranquility of Yin Yoga

In the modern whirlwind of life, where every day can feel like a race against time, discovering pockets of tranquility becomes an invaluable pursuit.

This is where Yin Yoga enters the scene, offering a serene haven amidst the chaos. This article explores the essence of Yin Yoga—what defines it, the myriad ways it benefits the body, and what you’ll need to embark on this transformative journey.

Understanding Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga, a gentle and introspective yoga form, directs its focus to the body’s connective tissues—ligaments, tendons, and fascia—along with the joints. Unlike its dynamic counterpart, Yang Yoga, which engages muscles and movement, Yin Yoga emphasises prolonged passive postures. Typically practised on the floor, these poses allow gravity to gently guide practitioners into deeper stretches.

The core of Yin Yoga involves holding poses for extended durations, often ranging from 3 to 5 minutes, or even longer. This sustained stillness fosters relaxation and facilitates the gradual release of tension within the body. Yin Yoga isn’t about chasing flexibility or pushing physical boundaries; instead, it’s a practice rooted in surrender and embracing the present moment—a practice that nurtures mindfulness.

Benefits for the Body

  1. Improved Flexibility and Range of Motion: The extended holds gently elongate the body’s connective tissues over time, leading to increased flexibility and enhanced joint mobility.
  2. Stress Relief and Relaxation: Yin Yoga stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, prompting the body’s relaxation response. This helps mitigate stress and anxiety, ushering in a state of calm and tranquility.
  3. Enhanced Energy Flow: Yin Yoga engages the body’s meridians—energy pathways. This practice encourages balanced energy flow and contributes to overall well-being.
  4. Joint Health: Prolonged poses support joint health by nourishing the tissues surrounding the joints, warding off stiffness, and promoting joint longevity.
  5. Mindfulness and Meditation: Rooted in meditation, Yin Yoga cultivates introspection and mindfulness, guiding practitioners to explore their inner landscape and fostering a sense of self-awareness and serenity.

The Perfect Complement to Other Movements and Vinyasa Yoga

Yin Yoga isn’t only a stand-alone practice—it harmonises beautifully with other movement modalities. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, or dedicated yogi, Yin Yoga offers a complementary dimension to your routines. It’s a gentle, therapeutic counterbalance to high-impact activities, helping prevent injuries, enhancing recovery, and encouraging a profound mind-body connection.

For those engaged in Flow or Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga provides a valuable contrast. While Vinyasa focuses on building heat, strength, and stamina, Yin Yoga offers an opportunity to deeply stretch and release tension in the body’s often-overlooked areas. This synergy creates a holistic approach to wellness that embraces both dynamism and stillness.

What You Need for a Yin Yoga Class

  1. Comfortable Clothing: Opt for comfortable, loose-fitting attire that allows unrestricted movement and stretching.
  2. Yoga Mat and Props: A non-slip yoga mat forms the foundation of your practice. Consider bringing props—like bolsters, blankets, and bricks —to enhance comfort and support during poses.
  3. Open Mindset: Yin Yoga underscores the importance of mental engagement. Approach your practice with an open heart and a willingness to embrace stillness.
  4. Patience: The essence of Yin Yoga lies in patience and surrender. Honor your body’s pace and avoid the temptation to rush or force stretches.
  5. Breath Awareness: Focus on your breath during poses. Deep, rhythmic breaths facilitate the release of tension and anchor you in the present moment.

Deep Stretch Yin classes take place monthly at the Barn in Houlton. No previous yoga experience needed! Next yin classes take place on Friday 22 September (full), Saturday 14 October (3 spaces) and Saturday 25 November (4 spaces).

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Deep stretch yin has now landed!

I am super excited to let you know that I’ve now received my Yin Yoga teaching certification from the British Wheel of Yoga!

Yin Yoga is a practice that focuses on unlocking the body’s full range of motion through deep stretching of the connective tissues, fascia and ligaments. In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy for our bodies to become stiff and tight, leading to decreased flexibility and mobility. This is where Yin Yoga comes in to work its magic.

In my Deep Stretch Yin class, we will move through a series of floor-based postures that are designed to release tension and open up tight areas of the body. By holding these poses for longer periods of time (3-5 minutes), we will work with our body’s natural range of motion, gradually increasing flexibility, improving circulation, and reducing stress.

This practice is beneficial for everyone, whether you are an athlete looking to improve sports performance or someone seeking greater ease and flexibility in your daily life or regular yoga practice. Deep Stretch Yin is also the perfect complement to a regular vinyasa practice, helping to balance and restore the body after more dynamic movement.

No prior yoga experience is necessary, as modifications and adjustments will be offered to make the practice accessible to all levels. All you need is a yoga mat, and you’re ready to join me on this journey of deep stretching and self-care.

I am excited to share the power of Yin Yoga with all of you and help you experience the incredible benefits of this practice. I hope you can join me on the mat and unlock the full potential of our bodies. Join me for Deep Stretch Yin and discover the profound effects of deep stretching for yourself.

The first Deep Stretch Yin Class takes place at the Barn in Houlton on Saturday 13 May. These are one-off classes, roughly every 6 weeks. Book your space now.

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Yin Yoga and Yinyasa coming to Rugby

Exciting news! From January 2023, I’ll be starting my 50 hour yin training with the British Wheel of Yoga.

Following a 3 month period of workshops, coursework and a final assessment, I’ll be offering new Yin and Yinyasa Yoga in Rugby.

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin Yoga helps to reduce injury, soothes the nervous system and improves sleep. It teaches you how to be in the present moment, rather than getting caught up in the worries of the past or future. 

It gently stretches and rehabilitates the connective tissues that form our joints making them stronger and more flexible.

Yin yoga is a quiet, floor-based practice. Postures are floor-based and held for 3-5 minutes or longer to stimulate the energy meridians. Muscles are relaxed to allow the focus to be on the joints, also encouraging a greater movement of energy through the tissues promoting healing.

What new classes will be available?

Yin Yoga – This yin practice is all about surrender. We surrender what we think we should be feeling in the pose. We surrender what we think the pose should look like. We surrender into our bodies, breath, and mind in the present moment.

Yinyasa – A fusion of yin long holds and vinyasa flows. This class starts with long-holding yin shapes that work deep into the fascia, then works into a more dynamic practice which targets the muscles.

Is Yin the same as Restorative Yoga?

Yin and Restorative Yoga practices both stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation. These practices help calm the mind, with your attention on the breath. Yin and Restorative Yoga are slow-paced and stress-relieving practices, they are very different.

Yin is about stretching and applying gentle stress to exercise the ligaments and to create space and strength in the joints. Restorative Yoga is all about supporting your body, allowing it to relax and heal.

Interested in getting priority yin class updates to your inbox?

Join my mailing list to be one of the first to hear about exciting class news and events. Yin and Yinyasa workshops will be available from April 2023.