Many people who practice yoga regularly find themselves drawn to either a vigorous active practice, or alternatively to a more gentle restorative practice.
If you’re intrinsically a very energetic person, you’ll tend to seek out Vinyasa flow or Power yoga classes, maybe even a Bikram class to let go of that extra steam. Instead if you’re naturally a more sedentary person, you’ll find that your body is instinctively drawn to a slower practice, such as a Restorative yoga class or a Yin yoga class.
What is Vinyasa yoga?
Vinyasa yoga is an active yoga practice that links one pose to the next in a flow-like manner, using the breath to move you from pose to pose. Each movement in the flow is done in time with an inhalation or an exhalation, allowing the poses to run together and become almost like a smooth dance.
What is Yin yoga?
Yin yoga is a very restorative style of yoga where the poses are practiced lying down or sitting on the floor. Each pose is held for a longer period of time – up to four or five minutes per pose. It has a much slower pace, there is no flow, no rapid movement from one pose to the next, and no standing poses. Expect deep forward bends, twists, hip openers, and shoulder openers.
The idea is to allow your body to fully relax into each pose, with the help of props to support you, so there’s no tension in the body. This will allow the connective tissue around your muscles, tendons and ligaments to slowly release, thereby improving flexibility and circulation. Yin yoga is the perfect counter-balance to a strong Vinyasa flow practice. It’s an inward-focused practice, and a more meditative and mindful approach to yoga.