Meditation Series

Meditation Series

Yin
Yoga

Kumbhaka
(breath-hold)

Emptiness

Mantra

Inner Sound

Sambhavi

Forgiveness

Thoughts

Breathing

Vipassana
(body scan)

Yin Yoga Meditation

Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a practice unto itself - you hold a yoga pose longer than the usual, without pushing the body into the pose. You simply use gravity to do the work and the body loosens up and sinks into the pose. Gradually, the body sinks deeper and deeper into the pose allowing a full stretch that cannot be achieved if this was done as a typical yoga asana in a class.

Some asanas of Yin Yoga are perfect for meditation. These are the ones where you don't prop yourself into a pose. You simply make the proper body alignment and let go, allowing the body to go limp. You allow gravity to do its thing as the body sinks into the pose, while the mind keeps awareness on the sensation of the stretch.

Meditation Aspect
In Yin Yoga, your breathing is likely Ujjayi Pranayama and your concentration is on the breath. In this practice (Yin Yoga Meditation), the breathing is natural (there is no Pranayama) and the concentration is on the sensation felt on the stretch as the body loosens up and sinks into the pose. It will become uncomfortable and the challenge is to observe the discomfort without reacting to it. You maintain the equanimity of the mind. It's similar to Vipassana Meditation but instead of a body scan, you concentrate on the individual body part that is being stretched.

Benefits
Since this is a fusion of many aspects of yoga, many benefits can be obtained:

1. Body relaxation
2. Body stretching
3. Increased flexibility
4. Focused / sharp Mind

Yin Asanas

Pigeon Pose, left / right side

---

Shoe Lace, left / right side

---

Mandukasana

---

Baddha Konasana

---

Butterfly Pose

---

Caterpillar Pose

---

Hanging Pose

---

Dragonfly Pose

---

Reclining Twist

---

Saddle Pose

---

Ending Thoughts
A key take-away here is that you are increasing your flexibility while you are meditating. And because there is a discomfort factor, you also strengthen your mind as you observe the discomfort without reacting to it.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

»» back to Yoga
»» back to Meditation
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE: 2024 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ALL BLOGS