Yin and Restorative yoga look lots alike. In spite of everything, college students lay on the ground, maintain poses a very long time, use props, and sometimes appear like they’re shedding consciousness (in a great way). So what’s the distinction between yin and restorative yoga?
Although the postures could look comparable, it could shock you to know that these kinds are very completely different! Let’s begin with the aim of those two kinds of apply:
- The aim of a restorative yoga class is to calm the nervous system and supply deep relaxation and leisure.
- The aim of yin class is to place wholesome rigidity throughout the yin (connective) tissues of the physique.
Let’s take a look at every type individually.
Restorative
Ideas of Restorative Yoga:
- Facilitate the pacification of the nervous system
- Launch postural muscular tissues
- Use props to help the physique in a helpful relationship to gravity
With a view to calm the nervous system and supply deep relaxation and leisure for the physique, a restorative class helps the physique in gravity in a state of repose. Certain, some restorative poses could have somewhat stretch to them (like a supported ahead fold or supported twist), however the intention of the pose is to engender leisure – to not stretch or add rigidity to the tissues. We’d say that in restorative, the physique is held in a state the place the tissues could also be stretched 0-50%. The stretch ought to “fade” into the background of the pose for the practitioner, quite than be a main space of focus. Restorative poses are held for a very long time (5-10 minutes) with the intention to enable the nervous system to loosen up quite than to “deepen” a stretch.
To facilitate deep leisure, the goal of props is due to this fact to offer ease for the physique. In restorative, no components of the physique ought to “hang around” in gravity unsupported; all components of the physique ought to really feel grounded. For instance, let’s say you set somebody’s knees on a bolster (yay), however their heels are dangling off the ground. In a restorative apply, we might add blocks or blankets beneath the toes so the heels aren’t hanging out in area.
Many of the joints of the physique ought to be in a delicate state of flexion (for instance: fingers curling in, elbows and knees barely bent, chin barely tucked) to facilitate a way of repose. Even a restorative backbend ought to facilitate quiet and calm quite than activation. Even the ever-vigilant postural muscular tissues get to take a break. As a result of we wish the physique to be peaceable, the physique in restorative yoga ought to be saved heat. “Secure, darkish, and heat,” as restorative chief Judith Hanson Lasaster has mentioned. Blankets, socks, even wooly hats are welcome (or have the room barely heated). We’re not going for lots of warmth right here, however we wish the sensation of a restorative class to be cozy. Our intention? Offering absolute consolation.
Yin
Ideas of Yin:
- Add a healthful rigidity to the “yin” tissues of the physique (tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, joint capsules)
- Calm down all muscular effort
- Domesticate mindfulness within the midst of the “edge” of sensation
Not like restorative, yin yoga does stress the tissues of the physique, particularly, the connective tissue. Slightly than stretch muscular tissues (yang tissue), yin yoga is designed to position a gradual, affordable rigidity to connective tissue with the intention to facilitate well being and hydration. Whereas each yin and restorative eshew muscular effort, yin invitations sensation (even wholesome discomfort) with the intention to deal with connective tissue. We’d say {that a} yin poses invitations a “stretch” of 50-80%.
Within the yin apply, we use props, definitely. Nevertheless, props are supposed to help us in a protected relationship to gravity quite than mitigate gravity altogether. In yin, we’re looking for a focused sensation (yin sensations embrace rigidity, achiness, stretching…by no means any sharp, tingling, or acute sensation). As a result of all our bodies are completely different, props could also be used to facilitate every particular person discovering their private, tolerable, and helpful edge. In yin, the physique does “hang around” in area a bit quite than being utterly supported by props.
As a result of the yin apply invitations an inexpensive fringe of discomfort, meditation and leisure in yin happens via the potential depth of sensation quite than in its absence. Offering rigidity to connective tissue can truly be very stress-free for the physique and nervous system (there could also be drool and snores), however we’re attending to that place by way of a distinct route than we’re in restorative.
Remaining Ideas
Restorative and yin are each lovely practices. Nevertheless, their items can get muddied once we merge the kinds and train restorative with stretching or yin with an excessive amount of help. By clarifying and holding true to the intention of every type, we are able to extra totally share their distinctive items.
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