Yin/Yang Yoga

Yin -- still, dry, dark, inner, patient, quiet, lunar, soft, cool, feminine.

Yang -- active, moving, quick, moist, muscular, firm, surface, warm, solar, masculine.

The qualities are relative; there is no absolute Yin or Yang. Yin can move toward Yang and vice versa, over time and given changing conditions. Applying these qualities to the practice of yoga, we see the trend in American yoga to practice a more active muscular Yang-style yoga, encouraging strength, heat, movement, and fluid-filled muscles.

Not to discourage, but to balance the Yang style of practicing, Yin Yoga is offered. The poses are held quietly and softly for several minutes, bypassing the pumping action of the muscles in order to reach more deeply into the less fluid-filled ligaments. The mood is patient; the opening in the joints is palpable and often dramatic.

In Yin/Yang Yoga, we practice a series of Yin-style postures, using the long holds to quietly coax the stretch out of areas that may have been dormant or hiding behind the active muscles. We follow the Yin period with Yang-style yoga -- moving, flowing, enjoying the new spaciousness in the hips and lower back, areas most addressed by Yin Yoga.

Allowing the Yin to flow into the Yang, the Yang to flow back to the Yin -- mirroring the endless cycles of Nature.

As the final phase of the Saturday Special cycle approaches, we honor the Divine Feminine, expressing the Yin qualities that bring balance to the Universal Yang. Fittingly, we already gave the fellows their Special in March, with Yoga for Men. Now, through flowing yoga and guided imagery, we will explore what unique contribution the feminine or Yin aspects bring to our appreciation of Universal Truth.

And guess what -- no absolutes -- men are very welcome!

Yoga and the Divine Feminine
April 19 – Barbara B.
Come discover your inner Goddess! Through yoga poses and flowing sequences we will connect with the Feminine Divine that dwells in all of us, discovering an increased sense of intuition, confidence, and joy. Some previous yoga experience required.

The Whole Enchilada

Dorothy Ann and twenty students were "inward bound" in her Saturday Special, "Meditation for Yogis". Using Patanjali's "Eight Limbs of Yoga" as a meditation map, Dorothy Ann guided us through the external and internal yoga practices, suggesting that the practice of moral awareness, yoga postures, breathing practices, sensory withdrawal, concentration and meditation combine to give us the fullness of this rich and ancient practice - or... the whole enchilada!

Two rounds of seated meditation were prepared for with gentle stretches and Dorothy Ann's enthusiastically experienced presentation of helpful techniques for getting quiet and looking inward. After the last meditation, all participants gave short, honest and very simply eloquent accounts of their experience. Whether good, frustrating or funny -- it was all helpful to demonstrate the variety of flavors available to the meditating mind.

Participants left feeling calmer, more aware of the benefits of meditation, and absolutely supported by the group in whatever their experience was. Dorothy Ann's class, Meditation for Yogis, meets on Monday evenings for another two weeks. She will return with the class in the Fall.

Next Saturday Special, April 5, is Yin/Yang Yoga, an excellent practice for preparing for meditation! See the Saturday Specials link for a description

Saturday Special: Yoga Mix

What makes a Saturday Special "special'?

Sometimes we offer a focus that doesn't quite fit into the weekly classes. Taking extra time to appreciate the vital role our feet play in our postures (Saturday Special - Feet and Ankles) or to focus on back strengthening and alignment (Saturday Special - Protecting the Lower Back) helps to inform our entire practice.

Sometimes we offer a slightly different style of yoga (Saturday Special - Yin/Yang Yoga) or enrichment forour practice (Saturday Special - Meditation for Yogis) that can bring new space to our hips or clarity to our mind.

Sometimes we explore creative themes (Saturday Special - Yoga and the Divine Feminine) or reach out to special populations (Saturday Special - Yoga for Men).

And sometimes we offer a plain ol' balanced yoga class that puts a spring in our step for the rest of the weekend. On March 8, Sandy's Saturday Special - Yoga Mix, gave the group a comprehensive and well-rounded yoga session that left us strengthened, stretched and very satisfied. A great way to start the weekend!

Some of the Specials mentioned above have already happened. But many are still to come. Check the schedule and brighten up your weekend with these creative additions to your yoga practice!

Saturday Special: Protecting Your Lower Back

On Feb. 16, Roddy offered a Saturday Special where she described key alignment tips that serve to engage core support muscles and create a lighter, more stable posture -- in and out of our yoga poses. We learned stretches to release the back, and ways to approach poses in order to protect the back. Roddy shared how she has learned to take care of her back within her yoga practice and throughout her daily life. Creative use of props, helpful partner work, and time to explore individual questions rounded out an engaging and informative Saturday Special!

Our Saturday Special series offers students a mini-workshop experience -- a chance to more deeply explore various yoga topics without having to invest a huge amount of time on a Saturday morning. We have a really interesting set of Specials still on tap, which will start up again after our Break Week. Check out the link on our web site to read about Saturday Specials still to come. Hope to see you!

"Foot Notes"

From the handout that Lynette provided at her Saturday Special focussed on the feet and ankles (See Greetings! post for a report on the class):

The average American takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, bringing a force of several tons to bear on the feet and spanning several miles.

We walk about 115,000 miles in a lifetime - more than four times the circumference of the globe.

A 150-pound person walking one mile exerts the equivalent of 63.5 tons - 127,000 pounds - on each foot.

Walking on cement can give each foot a 180-pound jolt with each step.

There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet, and they excrete as much as half a pint of moisture each day.

Walking is the best form of exercise for the feet.

There is an important relationship between our feet and our overall health and well-being! (Courtesy of the American Podiatric Medical Association)

All good reasons to take care of and appreciate our feet as the foundation of our yoga poses, our posture, and our connection to the good earth!

Greetings!

Welcome to the occasionally regular Inward Bound blog! Here we will post Inward Bound news, reports of workshops, upcoming events of interest, and articles and information to inform your yoga practice.

First report from Lynette's Saturday Special on the Feet and Ankles:

It was yoga spa day as eighteen happy students massaged their feet with scented arnica oil at the close of Lynette's Feb. 9 Saturday Special. Prior to that, we learned important anatomical sites to support our best foot alignment, revisited our walking style to the tune of Madeleine Peyroux's "Walkin' After Midnight", and experienced our posture and poses with new foot awareness. We explored focused stretches to support foot and ankle flexibility and also refreshed ourselves on the words to "This Little Piggie Went to Market!" An upbeat and informative morning -- thanks to Lynette and to all the students who contributed their interest and energy!

Feb. 16 -- Join Roddy for "Protecting the Lower Back." 10:30-noon, drop-in, $12.00.