The Big E – Exhale

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120 – July, 2020

By Elaine Lessig

“Take a deep breath. Inhale through your nose. Feel the air as it flows over the back of your throat, into your lungs. As it fills your belly, slowly, very slowly, exhale through the nose. Now, do it four more times, making sure to slow down the breath. Inhale through the nose to one, two, three, four. Hold for a count of two. Exhale to a count of four. Be aware. Notice how that feels.” The intoxicating voice of the Yin Yoga teacher, with his very proper British accent, pours like cream from my computer on Zoom. I want to do nothing more than listen and comply.

We are asked to “come into the room,” settle onto our mats, and establish our intentions. In Yin Yoga, we use all sorts of “props” to accomplish the various postures which are part of each session. Once on the floor with all my props surrounding me on four sides of the yoga mat, I am eager to begin the practice. The blocks, small pillows, bolsters, straps, and zafus–a soft round pillow upon which to sit–are all within reach, ready to use for the restorative poses to follow. Each is a little gem which helps to make the seemingly impossible, possible.

Please understand that until a few months ago, I knew nothing about Yin Yoga, nothing at all. Perhaps, this is the time to explain a bit about Yin Yoga, a modern form of yoga which is done either in seated or supine (lying) poses. This form of yoga is a direct contrast to Yang Yoga which is more dynamic which employ various, vigorous, fast-paced standing and seated movements to target muscles. Yin focuses on the deep tissues, fascia, and bones in an effort to stretch the muscles and gain flexibility. Yin’s slower pace provides for time to be still, breathe, and be meditative while enduring the discomfort which often comes with the process.

Click here to read the complete article
120 – July, 2020

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