Did you know?
Yin Yoga tradition advocates for stretching while the muscles are cold – why? Bernie Clark explains it well. Who?
When you hear “Yin Yoga” in the yoga world, teachers’ teachers who are thought to be masters of that style of yoga are few and select … They are:
Paulie Zink
Paul Grilley
Sarah Powers
Sarah Powers was a student of Paul Grilley, Paul Grilley, once a student of Paulie Zink … and so the style traces back to Paulie Zink. At the same time, in Canada, there’s Bernie Clark… SO I only bring this up because there appears to be a misunderstanding where students mix up Restorative Yoga for Yin Yoga … While I think all yoga to some degree is “restorative” unless it’s one of those over-exertion type of yoga that causes an injury, the two styles are quite different in its intent and approach. If you study with or studied the work of above teachers, then, it’s interesting to discover how it’s all same yoga … but difference in the intention can open up a whole new world.
The following link contains a video of Paulie Zink and it’s pretty fascinating – he’s one of the master-founders of Yin Yoga … so … throw away the stereotype. My kind of Yin Yoga practice is basically benefits all age-groups, accessible to all generations – to promote flexibility, agility, resilience, addressing the needs of connective tissues, fascias, joints. The practice will complement and enhance Yang style of yoga styles which strengthens and tones the muscles. It’s Yin & Yang, complementing each other as we need both elements for the balanced whole.
Check out the Yin Yoga Monkey ! I realize the video is from a karate competition not a yoga class but even his yoga sequence is pretty … wild. He demonstrates how yin yoga helps him achieve his optimal yang activities – this is the intent verbatim:
The purpose of Yin yoga is to restore our innate ability to move with fluidity.
This is Yin Yoga founder/master Paulie Zink – link here.
I had to chuckle as I was blurting out something about quieting the Monkey Mind during one of the classes. I guess one way is to act like a monkey. Another way is practicing another kind of Yin Yoga … finding the oozy juicy elegance in the long deep holds in each of the poses. Giving it the sweet time for tensions to dissolve … and melt away.
Should we do a frog pose next or how about a frog doing a yoga pose – Salamba Sarvangasana:)
