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Worrying about whether the knee should be or must be aligned over the ankle is focussing on aesthetics, not function. If the knee was not meant to go past the heel and over the toes, we would never be able to walk up or down stairs. (Try it! You can’t do it without allowing the knee to come forward....

I recently received the following question: Hi Bernie, I am deeply appreciative of your teaching and regularly practice under your (online) guidance, including through Yoga International. I have recently realized the the cause of my chronic back pain is due to a hiked hip, which is due to a tight il...

Yes, from your description this teacher's classes are not in keeping with how either Paul or Sarah teach. In Yin Yoga PG, the postures are held 3~5 minutes, no muscular engagement, no movement (except getting into and out of the poses), no going to "ultimate edges". Now, Sarah does teach vinyasa and...

Unfortunately, just because someone has studied with Sarah Powers or Paul Grilley, it does not mean that they will follow the teachings that they were offered. Sarah and Paul do not police their students to ensure they are teaching "properly". There is no Yin Yoga Police, and there is no one right w...

Sure! Let them float! I never insist that students must have their knees on the floor. Let's get back to functional basics: what is the intention of the pose? The targeted areas include the top of the thighs (quads), lower back (sacral lumbar area), hip flexors and maybe even upper chest. If you are...

A 2015 study was done to answer the question of how much stretch and for how long is optimal to reduce pain, increase range of motion and improve physiologic function of joints. Myofascial release (MFR) is a physical therapy using long-held, static stretches. It was employed to stress joints and was...

Hi Anelise This is a very complicated question. If you are deliberately trying to stress one sacroiliac joint via a Yin Yoga pose, I would probably recommend postures like Reclining Twist or Swan. This may help to increase mobility in that SIJ. However, how much is too much? Only the student can det...

General softening and relaxing techniques may be helpful. Visualize or imagine the area relaxing, softening, melting like ice cream on a hot day. Attend to the sensations; noticing what relaxation feels like in the jaw, the lips, the tongue. Ride the exhalations to let go of everything you no longer...

Hi Bas I do not know of any yin yoga postures that will help to reduce the tension in your jaw, but there are many suggestions for yoga in general that may help. For example, here is an article by Beth Spindler which you may find useful. She outlines several exercises. Do you know why you have so mu...

There is a section in YinSights on building flows, as well as in the Complete Guide to Yin Yoga. You can read the YinSights section here for free.

Start shallow and work to deeper. Starting with Dragon may be a bit too intense for many students. Take some time to work the targeted areas in simpler postures first, or be prepared with alternative postures to the Dragon for those students who cannot go so deep.

Cheers
Bernie

The last two paragraphs give the answer: what are you feeling? Those sensations will tell you what is stopping you.

Hi Jane I am going to start with my standard answer to such questions: “What did the doctor say?” Or in this case the ophthalmologist who did the cataract surgery. Only she knows what was done during the surgery and only she can wisely recommend a recovery period and what to avoid during that period...

Hi Kathy. As we get ready to start a new year and leave 2020 to the history books, I hope your journey continues to be one of healing and wholeness. You story really is an inspiration for so many who feel that they have lost forever their ability to do simple things. Take it slow: awareness and atte...

Certainly. I will sometimes offer the Golden Seed at the end of a long yin session that was targeting the hips. After spending 90 minutes of pulling the hips apart, it is nice to do some work to pull them together again and strengthen them. Or, if you are teaching a yin/yang fusion class, the Golden...