Yin and Restorative yoga look loads 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 types are very totally different! Let’s begin with the aim of those two types of follow:
- 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 stress throughout the yin (connective) tissues of the physique.
Let’s have a look at every type individually.
Restorative
Rules of Restorative Yoga:
- Facilitate the pacification of the nervous system
- Launch postural muscle mass
- Use props to assist the physique in a helpful relationship to gravity
With a purpose 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 slightly 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 stress to the tissues. We would 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, moderately than be a main space of focus. Restorative poses are held for a very long time (5-10 minutes) to be able to enable the nervous system to calm down moderately than to “deepen” a stretch.
To facilitate deep leisure, the function of props is subsequently to offer ease for the physique. In restorative, no elements of the physique ought to “hang around” in gravity unsupported; all elements 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 follow, we might add blocks or blankets beneath the ft so the heels aren’t hanging out in area.
A lot of the joints of the physique must 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 moderately than activation. Even the ever-vigilant postural muscle mass get to take a break. As a result of we wish the physique to be peaceable, the physique in restorative yoga must be stored heat. “Protected, 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
Rules of Yin:
- Add a healthful stress to the “yin” tissues of the physique (tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, joint capsules)
- Loosen up all muscular effort
- Domesticate mindfulness within the midst of the “edge” of sensation
In contrast to restorative, yin yoga does stress the tissues of the physique, specifically, the connective tissue. Reasonably than stretch muscle mass (yang tissue), yin yoga is designed to put a gradual, cheap stress to connective tissue to be able to facilitate well being and hydration. Whereas each yin and restorative eshew muscular effort, yin invitations sensation (even wholesome discomfort) to be able to handle connective tissue. We would say {that a} yin poses invitations a “stretch” of 50-80%.
Within the yin follow, we use props, definitely. Nevertheless, props are supposed to assist us in a secure relationship to gravity moderately than mitigate gravity altogether. In yin, we’re looking for a focused sensation (yin sensations embrace stress, achiness, stretching…by no means any sharp, tingling, or acute sensation). As a result of all our bodies are totally 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 moderately than being fully supported by props.
As a result of the yin follow invitations an affordable fringe of discomfort, meditation and leisure in yin happens by means of the potential depth of sensation moderately than in its absence. Offering stress to connective tissue can really be very enjoyable 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 presents can get muddied once we merge the types and educate restorative with stretching or yin with an excessive amount of assist. By clarifying and holding true to the intention of every type, we will extra totally share their distinctive presents.
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