A Vinyasa class is the classic representation of Yang in our life, we sweat, we work out our muscles (Yang tissue), and we feel good with our body, mind and spirit. I had attended many Yin classes during these 8 years, where you go inwards, hold poses for longer periods of time (3-7 minutes each), and do not engage the muscles. You actually target the bones, cartilages, tendons, ligaments and fascia which are, by definition, Yin tissues. In a Yin class, we work out our minds more than our bodies, since it takes really a huge effort to stay put, without fidgeting, for long periods of time. Our minds wonder away and give up way before our bodies will.

My practice had been mostly with very active Vinyasa classes where I can push myself to doing more and more, and naturally I started teaching Vinyasa classes at my home studio: Bombay Room, in Fort Lauderdale.

I had the pleasure to substitute a few Yin classes towards the end of 2017, and I discovered a hidden passion of mine: to guide my students in that long journey inwards, where you slow down your body and your breath, so you can get into your mind. In one of those events that happen in our lives at the right time, I was offered to teach permanently the Yin class I had subbed for, and I traded my Vinyasa class for the more calming, soothing inward journey of the Yin class. I must admit that I am loving every minute of it, from the preparation of the sequence, to the music selection for the playlist, to seeing the students immerse themselves in this magic bliss of Yin Yoga, where we are all humble, and there is literally no space for the ego to surface.

Earlier last year, I completed a Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Leslie Glickman from the Yoga Journey, where I learned so much more than I had learned on my own with innumerable books and videos. Yin Yoga is a great way to complement your strong Vinyasa practice, if you have one, or to start your own Yoga Path, if you are new to this millenary practice.

Quoting Bernie Clark, from his book “The Complete Guide to Yoga” in Yin Yoga, we seek:

“The stillness of the body, like a majestic mountain The stillness of the breath, like a calm mountain lake The stillness of the mind, like the deep blue of the sky”