by Isabella Cannon, Yoga Balance

Yin and Yang are Taoist concepts and are the terms used to describe all types of phenomena. Yin is the stable, unmoving hidden aspect of things while Yang is the moving, changing, revealing aspect.

Yin Yoga is a practice of stillness; a deep, meditative yoga that works by stressing the connective tissue of our bodies. The poses focus on the spine, hips and legs. The fundamental characteristic of Yin Yoga is holding the poses for several minutes.

Principles of a Yin Yoga Practice:

1. Come into the pose to an appropriate depth.
   Look for an appropriate amount of intensity, a balance between sensation and space. Listen to your body and go to your edge.
2. Resolve to remain still.
   To help nourish the joints; become still and muscularly soft, allowing gravity to have you. Try not to fidget; don’t try to fix or change the pose, to intensify it, or to escape the sensations.
3. Hold the pose for time.
   Yin poses are held for up to five minutes. Substantial holds help guide the mind to respond skilfully to difficult circumstances.

The principle of Yin and Yang is balance. Bringing balance into your life with the appropriate amount of movement and repose, allows you find that sense of equilibrium that can nourish life.