Yin Yoga - Be your own island

Be your own island - how Yin Yoga works

Do you sometimes feel like an octopus with eight arms, swimming between all the daily tasks? Especially in these unpredictable times, our talent for improvisation is especially in demand. The good news: With Yin Yoga, you can create your own island, an island of comfort. Learn more about this tranquil yoga style.

Yin Yoga leads you back to yourself, to stillness and primal trust. How does this work? With slow movements, almost as if in slow motion, a lot of awareness, and longer periods of staying in the positions. These are reminiscent of classic asanas (yoga exercises) – yet follow their own concept.

It is primarily practiced sitting and lying down, supported by various props such as cushions, blankets, and blocks. For example, while sitting in butterfly pose , you place two blocks under your knees and lie forward or backward on a thick cushion for about five minutes. The external support helps you sink deeper into the mat and ultimately release from within.

(Yin Yoga Butterfly. Photo: Sanja Wieland)

Yin Yoga - another dimension

And that's what Yin Yoga is all about: no longer holding on to anything—neither with the muscles nor with the mind. Those who engage with it experience a different dimension of yoga.

Fascia, deeper muscles, tendons, and ligaments are stimulated. Through gentle stretching, the fascia refill with fluid and regenerate – making us more flexible. You may be familiar with this from osteopaths, who also loosen adhesions or misalignments through gentle movement.

At first, many areas of the body are still tense because we're used to being constantly on edge. Some people find it helpful to listen to quiet music or recite a beautiful poem to envelop their minds. Our breath, in particular, can act as an anchor to help us calm down and find ourselves. To keep our thoughts from drifting away, we can silently say to ourselves: "I breathe in and feel free; I breathe out and let go."

Much more than lying and breathing

At first, it might seem strange to stay in an asana for five minutes. This is especially difficult for our dynamic minds. We're too conditioned to flow from one pose to the next. We can no longer be alone with ourselves. As soon as we have to wait somewhere, we pull out our smartphones to distract ourselves.

That's why it's brave to try Yin Yoga. It strengthens your connection to yourself and gives you a deep understanding of what's troubling you. Admittedly, it's sometimes uncomfortable, but looking away doesn't help. Inner tension can lead to problems that become increasingly painful.

To avoid this, our body constantly communicates with us – but we rarely listen to it. In Yin Yoga, we open this ear, create an island of comfort , and accept ourselves. Exactly as we are.

Two Yin Yoga exercise variations

It's best to practice with experienced teachers, currently primarily at home via online courses. Especially in Yin Yoga, what matters most is not what a pose looks like—what matters most is how it feels.

Resting Pose: Lie on your back and place your feet mat-width apart. You can stabilize their outer edges with a block or pillow. Two thick books are also useful here. Let your knees sink inward toward each other. Relax your shoulders, and rest your arms at your sides. Close your eyes and breathe in and out calmly. You may feel your lower back melting further into the floor with each exhalation. Feel supported and enjoy this arrival entirely for yourself.

Spinal Twist: Lying on your back, stretch your arms loosely out to the sides and place your feet on the floor. You can tilt your pelvis slightly to the left, and then your knees slowly drop to the right. You could place a pillow under, between, or on your knees. Your body will tell you how intense the rotation should be. A bolster supports your back; you may want to snuggle up against it. If you like, mindfully turn your head to the left. Enjoy the gentle twist, breathing easily and freely.

Have fun trying it out!

katkoyo – Katrin from Düsseldorf transitioned to yoga from Pilates. The journalist has found her home in Hatha and Yin Yoga and loves to gently build a bridge between body and mind with her students. Learn more about Katrin at Find Your Yoga and her website .