Ep #96: What is Yin Yoga with Paul Teodo

In this week’s episode of Going Pro, Paul Teodo returns to discuss yin yoga with Michael! Together they break down the history of yin yoga, styles of the physical practice, and the depths of the nervous system that can be reached through the practice. Yin yoga is a wonderful practice that provides students with ways of living more beautiful, vivid, and balanced lives.

Paul discusses what yin yoga is and the way in which he personally teaches yin in Bali. He mentions explaining to his students that they will be holding shapes while breathing deeply through the nose, relaxing the body, holding reasonably still and surrendering the body to gravity and surrendering the mind to the five senses. By doing so, students are able to create a relaxation response both physically, emotionally and energetically. 

They also discuss how yin is a  practice that allows you to get in touch with your parasympathetic nervous system. Michael breaks down the nervous system – both our sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. He describes the nervous system as a way that the deeper intelligence of the body learns how to be more efficient with its energy. 

With yin yoga specifically, we are working with the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” mode, which allows us to really rest and slow ourselves down. Michael elaborates on how it creates space for being and tapping into deeper layers of the emotional and energetic body.

Beyond the physicality of the practice, Paul discusses the feminine qualities associated with yin, including: Vulnerability, empathy, creativity, beauty of life, connection to nature, intuition and expression. 

Michael and Paul reiterate the importance of keeping the body safe in these yin positions and how teachers can cue and structure yin classes to support all types of bodies. 

00:00 Introduction

02:45 Where Did Yin Originate?

04:51 What Is the Practice of Yin?

06:45 Other Styles of Yin That Exist

09:30 Getting in touch with Feminine Qualities of Yin

11:55 Michael breaks down the nervous system

16:34 Softening the Body

18:18 Feminine Qualities of Bali

20:14 Jason Crandell on Yin Yoga

22:55 Safety and Accessibility in Yin Yoga

27:26 Bhramari Humming and other yin techniques

30:34 Silence as a Teacher

35:18 Michael’s Take on Holding Poses

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