Yin Yoga For Relaxation

This Yin yoga practice is a slow, soothing practice designed to calm the nervous system, release deep tension, and quiet the mind. By holding gentle poses for several minutes, the body is invited to relax fully, allowing stress and tightness to melt away. This stillness activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to reduce anxiety and promote a deep sense of calm. It’s a nourishing practice that creates space for both physical and emotional release, making it a powerful tool for relaxation and inner peace.

Transcript

This gentle flow of yin yoga for relaxation will calm your nervous system. Release tension, And settle your mind into a peaceful state. So let's begin with a wide leg stretch. So extend your legs out and you may want to have a pillow or a bolster for this posture if you like. Extend your legs out as wide as it feels comfortable without tension. Without stretching. To cause any stress to your body because we want to release tension. And calm the nervous system. So settle into your posture. Toes are pointed high up to the heavens. Back is straight You can do this pose with a pillow or a bolster or without your choice. So take a deep inhale. And on the exhale come forward from the hips. And if you're using your pillow or your bolster. Bring it under your chest. And allow yourself just to completely roll forward. Allow the head and the neck to release. Relax into your breath. On the next inhale, Tuck the chin into the chest, Rolling up one vertebrae at a time. Coming to a straight spine. Bring the legs together. Straight out in front of you, Moving into caterpillar. You can keep with your pillow or bolster. You can also use without your choice. And with a straight back, Take a deep inhale. Close down the eyes. And gently allow, On the exhale, The chin and the chest to come forward. Rounding forward. And if you feel that the pillow or bolster, If you're using it. Is stopping you from. . . Moving into the full expression, You can remove that. And just allow yourself to relax deep into the pose. Hands are resting gently. And the neck is gently. Tucked into the chest. And relax into your breath. On the next inhale, Roll up one vertebrae at a time. To straight spine. Bring the soles of the feet together, Moving into butterfly. You can have the heels close to your sit bones or further away. So wiggle around for a moment to see where the legs naturally feel comfortable opening to release into the pose so that you can fall into relaxation and releasing stress. And once you find where it feels comfortable, Gently rest your hands on your shins or near your ankles. Close down the eyes. Take a deep inhale. And as you exhale, Come forward. Moving from the hips. Into the full expression of the powers. And once you release. Into that point of resistance. Relax into your breath. On the next inhale, Tuck the chin into the chest and roll up one vertebrae at a time. Coming to a straight spine. Bring the knees together. And very gently roll over onto your belly. Coming into sphinx pose. So your elbows are directly underneath. Your shoulders. Your hips and your legs are gently resting on the ground. No gripping, No pulling, No tightness. And the head is in alignment with the spine. Begin there, Close down the eyes. Take a deep inhale. And if you wish, You can tuck the chin into the chest very gently. Allowing gravity to hold the head and the neck. And if it's more comfortable to keep the head in alignment with the spine, Do that. And relax into your breath. Long deep breathing. On the next inhale, Start to release the pose by bringing the head in alignment with the spine. And take your head and your forehead and rest it on top of your palms. Just rest here a moment. Releasing any tension that came up. On the next inhale, Very gently and mindfully push up and back into child's pose. Make this child's pose suit what you're looking for. Maybe it's a wide leg, Like in a child's pose. Maybe you want to go into baby pose. Listen to your body intuition. And gently settle into the pose. And relax into the breath. On the next inhale, Very gently. Walk the hands. Back towards the knees if your hands were extended out in front of you. And if you were in baby pose, Just roll up one vertebrae at a time, Coming to an upright spine. Come over onto your sit bones and we're going to come down onto our back. Hug the knees into your chest. Massage the lower back if that feels comfortable and appropriate for you. And bring if you're moving your knees and rocking bring the knees to center and gently drop them over towards your left. Relax into the full expression of the pose. For how your body wants to relax and to release any tension. So that you can drop into that peaceful, Mindful state. Eyes are closed. And when you're ready, Just relax into your breath. On the next inhale, Gently bring the knees to center. And hug them in again before we go to the other side And when you're ready, Drop your knees over towards the right. Relax into your breath. And close down the eyes. On the next inhale. Bring the knees to center. And take and make any micro movements that your body intuition is calling for before you release down into Shavasana. So maybe it's just a hug of the knees into the chest. Maybe it's a little rocking back and forth. Maybe it's happy baby. Whatever intuitively feels really yummy and delicious. So that you can release any last little bit. Of tension. And to complete your yin yoga for relaxation, When you're ready, Settle into shavasana. You may wish to take the pillow or the bolster. And place it underneath the knees. And also notice if you want your hands out, Down at your side. Or if you wish to rest your hands on your belly, Listen to your body intuition. Or maybe even one hand on the belly, One hand on the heart. Listen to your body intuition. Give yourself this time to fully release, Relax, And settle into the pose so that you can finish your practice feeling completely relaxed. I will leave you in Shavasana. So together, Take a deep inhale. And exhale, Sigh it out of the mouth. If you feel you wish to do that one or two more times, Listen to your body. And when you're ready, Completely release. Let go. And relax.