June is an excellent time of year, here in the desert, to include some yin practice. Tom Beall (E-RYT 500), well known Tucson yoga teacher and teacher trainer is once again offering the Unfolding the Lotus yin yoga workshop at Lyric Yoga. Tom is known in Tucson for the diversity he offers in the yoga classes that he teaches. He offers everything from a gentle class that welcomes newcomers to yoga, a restorative class to soothe the stressed, and intensely vigorous classes to challenge the body and engage the mind.
Tom explains how a yin practice differs from a yang practice in focus, "Where in a yang practice the emphasis is on stretching , toning and strengthening muscular tissue, in yin the focus is on the connective tissue ( ligaments, fascia, and to some extent tendons)."
To get into the connective tissue, continues Tom, "The approach involves holding a pose, generally a prone or supine posture for up to five minutes at a time while relaxing deeply into the stretch and allowing energy to flow freely. Alignment is not emphasized and breath is natural and easy."
Much of the yin yoga approach is developed from work by Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. Check out the accompanying slide show to get a sense of the types of postures Tom will be teaching at the workshop.You can see that most of the postures focus on the pelvic region and the spine. Why? Says Tom, "As the posture is held ligaments gradually stretch and release without effort or strain. As the tensions release, energy flows more freely through the meridians of the subtle body. Each posture targets specific meridians. "
Yin yoga provides for a different experience, intense, but not sharp or painful. Says Tom, " After a yin practice there is often a profound sense of relaxation, peacefulness and release."
By offering Unfolding the Lotus, Tom says, he can share the benefits. Tom says, " Yin yoga is not a substitute for a strong yang practice but a compliment to that practice. The two types of practice balance each other harmonizing the physical, emotional and energetic benefits of yoga practice."
Sign up for Unfolding the Lotus.
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