Many readers of YinSights: A Journey into the Philosophy & Practice of Yin Yoga, wrote to tell me how much they enjoyed reading it and how valuable they found the practice of Yin Yoga. Along with many emails, there were also requests posted in the YinYoga.com Forum asking for even more information: how to get into the poses described in the book and how to safely come out of them, how to do Yin Yoga for the upper body, whether Yin Yoga would be helpful for unique, special situations, and lots of other questions. Many readers asked about the Daoist history that also informed and influenced the development of Yin Yoga. The demand grew for a second edition of YinSights that would cover these and other details of the practice of Yin Yoga.
Unfortunately, a technical challenge arose: adding to the information already presented in YinSights would make the book unwieldy. YinSights was already over 400 pages long and extending it to answer all the questions being raised would make the book too bulky. A second edition did not seem like a good idea. Fortunately the opportunity arose to solve this problem by creating, not a second edition of YinSights but a new book focused more tightly on the practice of Yin Yoga and its benefits and less on the philosophy and evolution of Yoga in general. The result is The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga, which is now available for ordering!
To read more about the Complete Guide, click here.
The Dragon Dance Explored
Many students who have participated in the Dragon Dance either live, or via MyYogaOnline have heard about the energetic benefits of this exuberant practice but few have heard of the mythic symbolism of the dance, which is quite entrancing. This article will take you on a mythological ride with the Hero and the Dragon leading to a land of known as Moksha, or freedom.
If you are having trouble finding a Yin Yoga teacher near your, 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.
The forum is available for anyone to ask questions about Yin Yoga in particular or Yoga in general, but the forum is not just for those who “don’t know” – it is also available for everyone who already know, and have stories and information to share with others. Recently the forum has been changed to make it easier to find the most common topics. Check it out and feel free to add your voice.
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 Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings with Bernie Clark
A 35-hour, 3-Weekend Yin Yoga Teacher Training January 7/8th, 14/15th, 21/22nd, 2012
A 50-hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Training August 20th-27th, 2012 or November 12th-18th, 2012
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 is eligible for CEUs with Yoga Alliance. (Continuing Education Units 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.
A 60 hour, 7-Day Yin Yoga Teacher Training & Retreat May 20th to 27th, 2012
This will be at the lovely Sea-to-Sky Retreat Center. Visit Upcoming Events for more information
Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, and Biff Mithoefer are each planning a full load of workshops in 2011 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!)
The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga Read an introduction to Bernie’s newest book and discover the difference between his original exploration of Yin Yoga via YinSights and this more complete investigation.
The Dragon Dance Explored Ride with the Hero as he seeks to find and then overcome the Dragon, and learn what these ancient symbols mean mythically and psychologically.
Recent Forum Topics On the YinYoga.com website there is a forum where anyone can ask questions about Yin Yoga or other topics, and everyone is free to offer wise commentary. Click here to learn more.
Teacher Trainings & Retreats There are several Yin Yoga teacher training courses being held by Bernie Clark over the next 12 months. The next one is happening in January, 2012 in Vancouver Click here to learn more about these.
Checking out Other Interesting Events There are many teachers leading workshops, Yin Yoga retreats and Teacher Trainings. Click here to learn more.