Yin Yoga Yinsights
May 1, 2016

What Stops Me?
{An Excerpt from Your Body, Your Yoga}

There exists an important question in life and in yoga, one that we will benefit from asking any time life presents us with a challenge or high drama: “What stops me?” Physically, we reach our edge when one of two things occurs: our tissues can stretch no further, or our body is hitting itself. Tension arises when the body’s tissues can elongate no more, and further movement is therefore restricted. This tension can be found in our muscles but also in our fascia, ligaments and joint capsules. The second reason we may be unable to progress further is compression. This occurs when one part of the body comes into contact with another part. The stress of tension and compression can be arranged in a spectrum …

Read the rest of this excerpt.

In Defense of Yin Yoga

The desire for yin yoga classes seems to be growing louder than the groans of students coming out of the poses. But, while more and more people resonate with this wonderful style of practice there has come some cautions, some quite vocal. My intention in this article is to start a discussion on the merits of such critiques and to explain some flaws in the logic being presented. …

Read the rest of this article.

The Yin Yoga App is here
by Magdalena Mecweld

Magdalena created the Yin Yoga app to get you in better shape. She has collected 30 of her most popular Yin yoga classes. You’ll find short sequences that you can perform any time of day, to longer classes that will revitalise your whole system. She has also included a longer guided “Still Rest” and a “Mindfulness Meditation.” Check it out at the iTunes store.

Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings

Yin is In! 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
May 9th-15th, 2016;
July 25th-31st, 2016;
August 22nd-28th, 2016;
November 7th-13th, 2016;
February 13th-19th, 2017;
May 8th-14th, 2017;
July 24th-30th, 2017;
August 21st-27th, 2017;
November 6th-12th, 2017.

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 offered by Semperviva, 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.

LEARN TO TEACH THE DRAGON DANCE
A Dynamic Indian/Daoist Fusion Flow
A 3.5-Hour Workshop
By Bernie Clark
at Semperviva Yoga Studios in Vancouver, B.C.
November 5th, 2016 from 1:00 – 4:30 pm

Bernie Clark has been offering the dance since 2008 and has decided it is time to share it in a new way … by teaching teachers how to lead students through the dance.
Learn More

MEDITATION REVEALED
With Bernie Clark & Nathalie Keiller
May 15th-22nd, 2016;
November 13th-20th, 2016;
February 19th-26th, 2017;
November 12th-19th, 2017.

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

Back to top

The Yin Yoga Forum

A NEW Forum Thread: There is a new category for posts on the Forum: The Science behind Yin Yoga
This section provides an opportunity to share scientific articles and studies that shine some light on how Yin Yoga affects us. It is a bit of experiment, so check it out, contribute, and tell us what you think?

Back to top

Yin Yoga Teacher Directory

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.

Back to top

Other Interesting Events

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:

Paul Grilley’s Schedule of Workshops

Sarah Power’s Schedule of Workshops

Biff Mithoefer’s Schedule of Workshops

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!)