The art of stability

There are so many different varieties of yoga, but the significance of each depends on how one approaches it. Yin and Yang plays a part in almost everything we do. If Yin is the concept of female – the dark energy, the earth component signifying the stable, passive state of the mind and body, yang is the opposite. Yang dominates us most of the time, and so, Yin Yoga helps bring a balance in our lifestyles.

Yin yoga is all about grounding and feeling the presence inside you. It is about holding a posture for a time ranging from 15 breaths to two minutes. It is perfect for beginners, because it helps one to be aware of oneself in all the postures we do, without being worried about movement. Holding simple postures like the Padmasana, Vajrasana – feeling connected to the posture and to one’s own body helps us achieve stability and inner peace.

The Sphinx
Lie down on your belly, move the elbows just ahead of your shoulders, propping yourself up. Lift the torso with hands outstretched and palms flat on the floor.

Lateral Stretch
Hold the legs in the butterfly pose, bend torso laterally onto one side, rest the forearm, with palms facing downward and stretch the other arm in the shape of an arc.

The Bridge
Lying on your back, bend both the knees, and place the feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Press the feet into the floor and lift the hips up. Press down into the arms, and shoulders to lift the chest up.

The Butterfly
Sit straight on the floor with an erect spine and bend your knees by bringing your feet as close as possible to your body Hold your feet tightly with your hands. Now, gently bend your head down right above the feet. Also try to bend further, and touch your feet with the forehead.

Praying Posture
A simple posture with legs folded on top of each other. Ankles must be flexed with toes pointing forward. The ankles must also rest on top of the knees. The hands can rest on the knees doing a mudra or with open palms.

(Joshna has been practicing yoga for over 15 years now. She is an expert in Hath Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. An engineering graduate by qualification, Joshna currently practices and teaches Yin Yoga in Guangzhou, China for the past three years.)