Yin Yoga Podcast

Today on the podcast I'm going to discuss the practice of Loving Kindness Meditation, or Metta for Yin Yoga.

In this episode, I'll share in detail the who, what, when, why, and how of incorporating this powerful meditation into our Yin Yoga practice, in our Yin Yoga Classes, AND in our everyday lives.

This topic is very near and dear to my heart I’ve been practicing Metta for nearly 20 years, integrating it into my personal meditation practice and classes for my students.

It’s become a staple in my life which offers me both inner groundedness and a sense of connectedness to those around me.

Also mentioned in this epiosde:

May I be Content:

https://thetattooedbuddha.com/2019/12/06/may-i-be-content/

Psychology Today Article with links to studies:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/feeling-it/201409/18-science-backed-reasons-try-loving-kindness-meditation

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Full Show Notes https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

See all episodes at a glance

Metta Books:

Loving-Kindness in Plain English: The Practice of Metta by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana 

Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg 

Awakening Loving-Kindness by  Pema Chödrön 

Fall and The Metal Element: An Overview

As we start transitioning into fall, it’s a time linked deeply with the metal element in TCM. Fall marks a shift from the extroverted, yang energy of summer to a more introverted, yin phase.

In both TCM and Taoist thought, fall is a time for letting go and is connected to the emotion of grief. This grief could be as simple as missing summer or something deeper.

Fall is my second favorite season, after spring. Although I adore fall’s colors and cozy sweaters, scarves, and boots  I do grieve the reduction in daylight hours more than anything.

The Emotional Aspect of Fall The Metal Element

Many Practical Tips for Embracing the Season in this Episode.

Visit my website to access the full show notes with video for Practice

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Full Show Notes https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

See all episodes at a glance: 

In this episode, we dive into the fundamentals of fascia with anatomy expert Gil Hedley.

Watch Killing us Softly 4 https://youtu.be/lxYcaFzVX08?si=nVDAvK3IBsJUcL_p

In this episode of A Yin Yoga podcast,  Addie deHilster (mindfulness meditation teacher and certified Yoga therapist) and I have a relaxed what I'm calling a fireside chat about the use of props in Yin Yoga.

If we think that yoga should be accessible to everyone (and I do) regardless of their skeletal structure or flexibility. Then in this discussion My guest and I emphasize how props can enhance comfort and accessibility, debunking the notion that Yin Yoga should be practiced without them.

We dive into the critical role of props in Yin Yoga, address common misconceptions and highlight the benefits for individual practice.

In this discussion, we chat not only about our personal experiences, but also share practical advice for teachers, and the broader implications for creating accessible and trauma-informed Yoga environments.

 Also Mentioned In this Episode:

 Mindfulness in Yin Yoga- with Addie deHilster

Yin Yoga vs Restorative Yoga

My Interview on Addies Podcast 

Find Addiie:

Addies Props On-Demand Course

Addies Teacher Training 

Find Addie on Instagram

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Wow, It feels like just yesterday I was starting this podcast and here we are at the end of season 2.

I'm getting ready to take a break over the summer to heal regroup and plan season 3.

But before I do I wanted to announce that if you are listening to this episode when it drops, registration for my 60+ hour Therapeutic Yin Training is open (whoot). You can click this link to learn more and sign up.

https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/

If these current dates don't work for you make sure you join the waitlist!

Anyone on the waitlist gets first access to registration, access to a 25% Off discount code 
And a bunch of free Yin Yoga goodies while you wait for registration to open.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

Is an overview of all the episodes I have covered so far.

Unless you are the most dedicated Listener You Have likely missed a few And this is a great time to catch up over the break.

You can see all of the episodes including links at a glance here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NOyRZM7cKC-h9kOMT-rIIeuatJgOf1CKT63LjAHk2LU/edit?usp=sharing

Have a great Summer and Until Sept bye for now.

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Full Show Notes https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

Nyk Danu Yoga: https://www.instagram.com/nykdanuyoga/

Yin Yoga Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/yinyogapodcast/

The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long"  Lao Tzu's

If you live in the northern hemisphere and you are listening to or watching this episode as it comes out then today is the first day of Summer.

So in honor of the day, I thought I would do a special episode on Embracing the Fire Element Summer in Taoism and TCM

Element of Fire corresponds to Summer in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoism

Harmonizing Yin and Yang:

In the busy outward shining energy of summer, it's important to remember to harmonize active (yang) energy with restful (yin) energy during the energetic summer months.

A few characteristics of the Fire Element and Summer

Shen and Its Importance:

Shen represents the mind and spirit, encompassing mental function and emotional health. The Shen Ming is the inner radiance and vitality that shines through one's eyes, reflecting enthusiasm and clarity of mind.

Physiological and Philosophical Functions of the Heart:

Meridians Connected to Fire:

Fire Personality Archetype:

Seasonal Tips for Summer:

Balancing Activities:

Emotional and Spiritual Health:

Disclaimer:

The information provided is for general knowledge and entertainment. It is not medical advice, and listeners should consult healthcare professionals for personal health concerns.

You will learn all this and much more in this episode

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Full Show Notes https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

Do you ever feel like Your Yin Yoga classes are getting boring?

The first thing to get clear on as a teacher is, are you bored or are your students bored?

Most of them (your students) aren't bored It's in your head, dear teacher, you are bored.

They are probably not.

90% of the time, your students are not bored.

They are content to do the same thing over and over and over again because it's more nourishing to their nervous system to have something familiar and predictable.

It's the same reason that people who suffer from anxiety, for example, will watch the same movie over and over, right? It's like a little feel-good fix.

You know what's coming. It's your favorite movie. It’s like this in their class.

From my experience, 90% of the time, the teacher is bored with the sequence, not the students.

That being said, in this episode, I will share some tips and Ideas to keep your Yin Yoga classes inspiring BOTH for you the teacher, and your students.

But remember Dear Yoga Teacher Yin Yoga is not Entertainment.

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Full Show Notes https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

This week's episode was sparked by a question from a listener:

"What about when you don't feel it physically? I don't feel it's, and she has in quotations, it working. So that functional element, which Paul and you are teaching is not there. I'm able to hold these poses for five-plus minutes without fiddling, moving, or being impatient. I mean, it's bliss.

Don't get me wrong, but I'm tapping more into restorative yoga and I want Yin."

We always are. I think as Yoga people, we're always chasing stretch or chasing sensation.

And that can be problematic if you're always chasing stretch or you're always chasing the sensation of stretch, that feeling. Which can be quite addictive. And I know of, I've heard many, teachers that have taught probably another 10 years, in addition to mine, they've been teaching for, you know, somewhere between 25 and 30 years, talk about an addiction to feeling the sensations in the body, right?

That too can become an addiction. And if we're not skillful. Injuries to the body, right? There are all kinds of Yoga teachers out who are not Yin teachers, but teach more active styles of yoga, like Ashtanga, who back in the day would just push through the pain and have ended up with hip replacements or knee surgeries.

So there needs to be some wisdom to temper our practice. And an understanding that the point of a Yoga practice isn't necessarily just the physical poses. So I want to start with, that the point of a yin practice may not always be the physical poses. And I'll talk a little bit more in a moment here about, other things that the practice can be about for those when you're in a pose and you're not feeling any sensation.

So that's the first thing I want to address is that the point of Yoga isn't to be chasing sensation for the rest of our lives. If you were thinking about Hatha Yoga, the point would have been according to Patanjali to create a body that's stable and healthy and can sit in meditation so that it can eventually merge with the divine.

Right. That was the whole point. Now, even if you're not a Patanjali style of Yoga, if you tend to be a little bit more TCM or, other philosophies from India, That's fine.

But just know that these physical shapes that we make with our body are the least important part.

So that's one thing. Yes, they're helpful. Yes, they can help us maintain the physical health of our body. But there's so much more that goes into a Yoga practice. So for example, the nervous system, and if you don't know, much about the nervous system, previous to this episode coming out, there will be a couple of episodes on, there's one on the nervous system and Yin Yoga and trauma.

There are so many other aspects of a Yin Yoga Practice, other than physical sensation that are explored in this episode.

 Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Full Show Notes https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Find me on Instagram 

@nykdanuyoga

@YinYogaPodcast

What I have witnessed many times when I attend other people's yin-yang classes, is that the class starts with some kind of grounding and centering.

Then quickly move into sun salutations. Then there's a dead stop in the practice into child's pose, which is their transition into yin.

And then they throw in some Yin poses.

That's not very skillful.

And here's why our nervous system is going to have a lot of trouble adjusting to move, move, move, move, move, hot, sweaty, hot, sweaty, hot, sweaty, peak pose, bam, yin pose.

It's too jarring to go right from one to the other.

I would argue that a yin-yang class is more circular in nature. It's more of a circular experience and the transitions are slower and they have more ease in them. There's a little bit more kind of moving from one to the other instead of this start-stop.

And although that might be an okay Yang to Yin class, I know dear yoga teacher listening that you don't just want to teach okay classes.

I know that you want to teach exceptional classes. Part of my mission with this podcast is to give you some tools tips and techniques to help you guide exceptional classes.

Okay, so we'll talk about all of this and more in this episode

Also mentioned in this episode:

What is Yin Yang

Are you teaching your Yin Yoga with your Yang attitude

Honoring the Rebound

Yoga Teachers: Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom

To subscribe to my On-Demand Video Library:

Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley

Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra 

Is Yin Yoga For Beginners?

In today's episode, we're diving into a comment that caught my eye in a Yin Yoga Facebook group: "Yin Yoga is not suitable for beginners."

My initial reaction? Say what? That's news to me! So, I decided to dig deeper. Why would someone say that? Unfortunately, I didn't get any answers from the person who made the statement 🤷🏻‍♀️ so let's break it down together.

The thing about Yin Yoga is, well, it's a bit like life—there's no one-size-fits-all answer. It's a mix of yes, no, and it depends.

So is Yin Yoga Suitable for Beginners and if so which ones? Also as teachers How Do We introduce beginners to a Yin Practice?

We will cover all this in this week's episode

Yoga Teachers:⁠ Join The Waitlist for my Therapeutic Yin Yoga Training⁠ at the bottom and top of the Page

To Join my ⁠Yin Yoga Classes on Zoom⁠

To subscribe to my ⁠On-Demand Video Library⁠:

Full Show Notes ⁠https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/⁠

⁠Anatomy for Yoga with Paul Grilley⁠

⁠Hang Drum Music by Fred Westra ⁠