Primary Principles of Practice: Yin Yoga Overview

In Yin Yoga, the practitioner:

1. Sets up in such a way as to release muscular effort.
2. Stays in the pose for several minutes.

Sarah Powers describes three primary principles of practice:

1. Come into the pose “non-aggressively and sensitively” to an “appropriate edge.” (See more on “playing the edge” below.)
2. Become “still and muscularly soft, allowing gravity to have you.”
3. Hold the pose “for a while” so as to “fully nourish the meridians.”

The Pace is Slow

Yin yoga is practiced sitting or lying on the floor. There are no planks, no warriors, no core work. No dynamic sun salutations. The pace is slow, so you need to wear comfortable clothes and maybe even keep your socks on. – Pamela Chang

Fascia Responds Slowly & Gradually

Fascia, the target tissue of yin practice, is highly adaptive— constantly responding to the demands we place on it. Its response, however, is slow and gradual. To target our slow-reacting fascia we need to stay in the same subtle, relaxed shape for at least a couple of minutes. – Rachel Land