Yin and Restorative: Types of Yoga Part 3

Six styles of practice in the books! Are you taking notes…? We have four more styles to go, and from here on out, I will group them in pairs. Of course, there are many, many more styles of Yoga than just the ones I’m talking about. However, I chose these styles out of all the rest because of their increasing popularity in the West. So today, we’re talking about Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga.

Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga are often confused for the same style of practice. While there are similarities, such as the use of props and longer holds, Yin and Restorative are vastly different. While they are two separate practices, the asana can cross over from one style to the next. Some teachers will even teach both Yin and restorative in the same class. This can make picking them apart a little confusing, but hopefully, I can help clear some of that up!

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a more passive practice. Yin is utilized to balance out the Yang style life we live. Yin is more calm, inactive and cold, while Yang is more active, fast-paced and warm. Many Yin practitioners believe that the Yin style of Yoga is actually how Yoga was originally intended to be practiced.

Yin Yoga targets the major joints in the body. Working with passive engagements in order to move into the deeper connective tissues such as the tendons and the ligaments. Yin Yoga also works with the meridians of the body. The meridians of the body are the energy channels where our Prana or vital life energy flows. It is because of this, that Yin Yoga can be a very rejuvenating practice.

There are not a whole lot of poses in the style of Yin Yoga. That is because the poses are held for longer periods of time. You can go to an hour-long Yin class and only practice five or six poses the entire class. The intention of taking our time in the poses is so the body can truly open up. This, in turn, creates space for our energy to flow. In addition to holding poses for longer periods of time, students are asked to breathe deeply into the belly. When we breathe into the belly we activate our parasympathetic nervous system. When our parasympathetic nervous system is active, it slows down our heart rate and allows us to reach a more relaxed state of mind.

While passive engagements seem easier, the practice of Yin can be very challenging. Moving into the tendons and ligaments can present entirely new sensations that we are not used to. A lot of our habitual tension and emotional stress is stored in these deeper tissues. The challenge of Yin is to sit the uncomfortable, resist the urge to fidget and allow ourselves to breathe.

When practiced consistently, Yin Yoga can increase the health and vitality of our joints. Yin style poses can compliment a Yang style practice nicely since it works different parts of the body. Practicing Yin before a Vinyasa style class can improve our elasticity. Yin is also a great practice early in the morning and right before bed because of it’s extremely calming nature. Additionally, Yin Yoga is very accessible due to its use of props and modifications.

If you would like to learn more about the lineage and philosophies of Yin Yoga, check out The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga. It is a fantastic read for both teachers and students. Not only does it dive into the history and theory, but it describes each pose and modification in depth. There are also set sequences at the end of the book that you can practice at home!

Restorative Yoga

Much like Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga utilizes props and longer holds to receive the maximum benefits of the practice. The major difference here is that Restorative Yoga continues to work the muscles, and Yin Yoga focuses on the joints and tendons. Yin Yoga is best practiced when the body is cool, so we don’t overstretch the joints. Restorative Yoga, however, can be practiced either cool or warm since we are focusing on the muscles.

The goal of Restorative Yoga is to completely relax the muscles and let go of tension and stress in the body. Many restorative postures actually derive from Iyengar Yoga. This is because alignment and props are heavily emphasized. When we use props to move into a pose, our muscles can relax since the props hold us in place. When this happens, there is much less stress and effort on our part. Our body can then focus on soaking up all of the benefits of the posture.

Restorative Yoga is known to balance the central nervous system through its calm, passive practice. When our nervous system is balanced, our immune system gets a boost as well. This is why many people who suffer from chronic injury and illness can benefit from a restorative practice. Similar to Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga allows energy, blood, and oxygen to move freely in the body by gently opening up the muscles and releasing any blocks.

Restorative Yoga is meant to feel good. When we practice Restorative Yoga we are entering a state of conscious relaxation. This conscious relaxation improves our bodies ability to nurture and heal itself. Additionally, it aids us in our meditation by creating a mind-body connection through passive poses. Restorative Yoga is a great tool for any yogi looking to increase their inner awareness and reduce stress.

Yes, Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga are very similar in their approach to the asana. They are different in terms of what we are working in the body and how we feel the work benefiting the body. In Yin Yoga, the sensations we receive by working the tendons and connective tissues in the joints can be quite intense. Yin can be relaxing, but it is only relaxing if we choose to focus on our deep belly breath. Yin is still quite challenging since we sit in an uncomfortable pose for a very long time.

Restorative Yoga, on the other hand, is intended to relax the muscles and the mind. In a restorative practice, props are used to move into a pose more passively. When we do so, our body receives the benefits of the practice with little to no physical effort. The sensations we feel in a Restorative practice are meant to feel good and relaxing. Restorative Yoga helps balance our central nervous system and boost our immune system by creating this sense of calm.

While Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga are very different, the effects they have on the body and mind can be similar. Both Restorative and Yin are great practices to include in your Yoga routine. Both practices complement our yang style lives and can be good to practice on busy or low energy days. It’s good to change things up every once in a while, and who knows, you may find yourself a new favorite!