Yin Yoga is a simple practice, very simple … just come into a pose, become still and stay. Stay! Stayyyy … But, for anyone who has tried this simple practice, you soon discover that “simple” does not mean “easy.” It is sooo simple that anyone can do it – but should anyone do Yin Yoga? Even beginners, who have never done any yoga before?
This month we continue to look at books about yoga or books that have nothing to do with yoga, but can help us on our journey. Often the books being reviewed are ones that you will never have heard of, books that are not on Amazon’s list of “The Ten Top Yoga Books.” But they are books that are valuable.
This month we look at Your Wound is Your Gift by Dan Clements.
There are now four excerpts available and you can find them on the G2G web page. The latest offering is called The Heroes of Yoga: the Rishis and the Story of Vikra. Enjoy!
Yin is In! And, it is growing in popularity. Yin Yoga has been with us since the beginning of Hatha Yoga centuries ago. But since the early 19th century, yoga has become more and more yang-like in nature. Everything requires balance: yin completes yang. Yin Yoga is the balancing practice for the more active, muscular yang yogas. There are more and more teachers offering Yin Yoga today, and more workshops and opportunities to learn how to become a Yin Yoga teacher. If diving deeper into the yin-side of life is on your bucket list, there are lots of opportunities for you.
Upcoming Trainings and Retreats with Bernie Clark
50-hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings November 10th-16th, 2014; (Sold out but there is a waiting list.) Feb 9th-15th, 2015; May 11th-17th, 2015; July 27 – Aug 2, 2015; August 23rd-30th, 2015; November 9th-15th, 2015.
All of these will be at the Semperviva Yoga Studios, in Vancouver, Canada. The Yin Yoga Teacher Training Program offered at the Semperviva Yoga College is a unique way to deepen your yoga practice and touch tissues rarely worked in a more active yang style of yoga. For 200 hour certified teachers the credits of the course can be applied towards the 500 hour certification, and are eligible for CEUs with Yoga Alliance. (CEUs = Continuing Education Units and are required to maintain your status as a Registered Yoga Teacher).
For more details or to register, check the Semperviva web page or call them at 604-739-2009.
MEDITATION REVEALED With Bernie Clark & Nathalie Keiller November 16th – 23rd, 2014; May 17th-24th, 2015; November 15th-22nd, 2015.
This course will examine what meditation is, why we do it (its many benefits, spiritually, psychologically and physically), and how to do it, from a variety of viewpoints: From Eastern Yogic and Buddhist views to Western Psychotherapeutic understanding. The course will include personal, one-on-one training in Deep Meditation, as well as group instruction, to give the student an experiential basis for the practice of meditation. Held at the Semperviva Yoga Studios – Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Learn More
Unsure of what flow to offer to your students in a Yin Yoga class, or just looking for some new inspiration for your own practice? Check out this thread offering many flows tried and tested by Yin Yoga teachers around the world. If you have a favourite flow of your own, feel free to offer it as well.
If you are having trouble finding a Yin Yoga teacher near you, or if you are traveling to somewhere new, try checking out the Directory of Yin Yoga teachers. We have hundreds of teachers registered from all over the world. If you are a teacher and are not in the directory, just send us your information and we’ll be happy to add you.
Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, and Biff Mithoefer are each planning a full load of workshops all over the world. You can check out their schedules at their home web pages:
Many teachers around the world are creating Yin Yoga based workshops and retreats. Some of them are posting these activities on our Forum page. Check it out. There may be one happening near you. (If you are a teacher, feel free to add yours to the page!)
Can Beginners do Yin Yoga? Yin Yoga is such a simple practice that it seems anyone can do it, but should a raw beginner start with Yin?
Book Review: Your Wound is Your Gift by Dan Clements Bernie reviews this open source book by a modern day Henry David Thoreau, Dan Clements, who doesn’t live near a pond, but does live on a small island, commuting to the big city to share his wisdom and yoga.
