Yin Yoga

Yin yoga has its roots in traditional yoga and taoism. Paul Grilley is the founder of modern yin yoga. His little book 'Yin Yoga - outline of a quiet practice' is a great resource if you are interested to find out more about this style of yoga. 
Yin yoga addresses yin parts of our bodies, in particular connective tissue and bones between the knees and the waist. Muscles are yang parts that like active movement with lot of repetitions. Yin tissues, on the other hand, like quiet and slow yoga practise. 
All yin yoga positions are practised sitting or lying down and are held for a few minutes - 3, 5, 10 or more minutes. 
When you start practising yin yoga, your goal is not to stop all other more yang physical activities you may do. On the opposite! Yin yoga balances all these activities so that you can experience the state of balance and wellbeing in your life. 
The main importance of yin yoga practise: 

• it balances yin and yang aspects in our lives
• it supports and enhances energy flow in our bodies
• keeps our connective tissues healthy
• develops bodily awareness and promotes relaxation. 

According to taoism, everything around us, including ourselves, is either in balance between yin and yang aspects or in a state of imbalance. 
Yang aspects of ourselves are active, in need of change, located higher or more on the surface, more masculine, fluid, warmer.
Yin aspects of ourselves are less active, cooler, intuitive, located deeper, more feminine, drier, happy to let go, let things be, compassionate. 
Yin cannot exist without yang and yang cannot exist without yin. 

Lao Tzu said: "We are able to see beauty because ugliness also exists."

Benefits of regular yin yoga practise:

•  relaxes and balances mind and body
• lowers stress and anxiety
• improves blood circulation
• relaxes and stretches fascia
• improves flexibility and joint movement.