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Hi, Bernie, I have a student who comes to my cancer survivorship class who is extremely stiff in her joints. She is a few years post-treatment, but she tells me that during her treatment, she was given steroids to boost her energy level, and these have had a negative long-term effect on her muscles ...

As a teacher of both yin and cancer survivors, I have to put my .02 in here. I have found that the longer holds that are necessary for a yin practice are wonderful for the cancer survivor's mind, but not always best for the body, especially when there is a risk of lymphedema. I am a big advocate for...

Hello, Yin Sangha, I wanted to share with you all some insights my students have been developing during their yin practices. Lately, I've had a few students show up who were recently diagnosed with cancer. I do work with a lot of cancer survivors, so this is not entirely unexpected. What's new for m...

This was a nice fall sequence for a 60-minute class (could be stretched out with longer holds) that I taught last Friday. The class is at a corporation with only blocks and mats as props, and the room was quite cold! Standing warm-up for hands, neck, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles ~5 min (this was n...

Beautifully said, Bernie!

I keep thinking of a the elements of a sauna: you must have heat (yang) AND water (yin) to create the perfect amount of steam... Ahhh.

LOL, Bernie, I love your response! I have a student who comes occasionally to yin, but frequents my flow classes more and has a similar "problem". She was very flexible prior to a horrendous motorcycle accident, but became interestingly so after her femurs were reset. She feels nothing in Swan, Slee...

Here is an interesting article that highlights what I have personally been working with - balancing joint health and muscle strength. Bernie, do you have any thoughts about this teacher's experience? http://themagazineofyoga.com/blog/2011/05/26/to-yin-or-not-to-yin-that-is-the-question/?sms_ss=faceb...

Great points, as always, Bernie! I would like to add some advice to Allison, based on my very first experience with yin yoga. The teacher was silent almost throughout the entire class, other than instructing the entry of the poses. I was newer to yoga then, and totally at sea! I disliked the practic...

Here is Dragonfly: http://www.yinyoga.com/ys2_2.0_asanas_dragonfly.php Instead of dropping all the way down, put your reading material up on a short stool or tall cushion and rest your chin in your hands. Here is Sleeping Swan: http://www.yinyoga.com/ys2_2.0_asanas_swan_sleeping.php Again, don't com...

My favorite reading postures: 1. Dragonfly with reading material elevated; note: I used to fall asleep in this position as a child, so I may be unusual in loving this one! 2) Sphinx with support (pillows, bolster) under hips 3) Sleeping/reading swan pose; one of my students uses this pose to do work...

Most of the seated poses can be performed on the back, to some extent, which will avoid forward bending. For example: Butterfly - rest on back w/legs in butterfly shape, or wall butterfly Caterpillar - legs up the wall Child's Pose - knees folded to chest Dangling - legs up the wall (or you can belt...

I teach a weekly 60-minute yin class for a corporate client, so I've gotten pretty good at managing the time. the trick is to limit the number of asymmetrical poses. Here's an idea for you: Butterfly 5min Frog 4min, narrow-knees child's pose as rest 1min Sphinx/Seal/Saddle (depending on how you feel...

I've begun posting my sequences on a blog for students to use and comment on. You are all welcome to view it and share your thoughts, too. Namaste!
http://yogabylorien-sequences.blogspot.com

Hi, Jessica, This is a really great question, and very timely for me, as I have been working with exactly this issue recently. Mula Bandha is a specific technique to direct energy. I would not combine it with the meridian stimulation that yin provides. I am not sensitive enough in my energy movement...

Wow.

This is a beautifully written response, Bernie. I would love to see you expand on it even more... maybe an article? Tools, yes, that is exactly what we are teaching and what people get stuck on (including me). Thank you.