Written By: Tania Tarafdar | Updated : February 29, 2016 6:50 PM IST
Yoga has contributed in the holistic living of individuals in the most trusted and natural way. While we are aware only of the famous ashtanga and hatha yoga forms, you could also try the restorative yin yoga. And it is always great to try new things even in the realm of yoga. Sweta Arora, yin yoga expert, The Yoga House speaks about the yin yoga practice. Also, try these 21 variations of yoga.
What is Yin Yoga?
Yin yoga is a meditative type of yoga where yoga poses are held approximately for three to seven minutes. The yin yoga poses allow stretching thoroughly, helping you relax deeper into the poses. Try yin yoga if you are a beginner as it will increase your mobility and awareness and build flexibility.
How is it different from Hatha Yoga?
Hatha yoga has its roots in India but yin yoga was originated in China. Yin yoga and hatha yoga are similar in nature but have distinct characteristics of practice and origin. A yin yoga class can feel quite different from a hatha yoga class. Here s how:
Breathing
In hatha yoga, the focus is on breath control and awareness. As you move through the poses, in hatha yoga you will need to lengthen and deepen your breath. In yin yoga, however, the focus is to keep the breath regular and uncontrolled. You need to keep your breath gentle when you practice yin yoga.
Stretching
When you practice hatha yoga, you move swiftly from one pose to the other. You are likely to do a variety of asanas in a hatha yoga class. But in yin yoga, you need to hold each pose for longer. You need to hold each pose approximately for five minutes. This form of yoga focuses on stretching the deep connecting tissues in the joints. When you practice yin yoga, you will eventually have a greater range of motion because of the lengthening of the connective tissue.
Benefits
So, when are you planning to enroll for a yin yoga class?
Image source: Shutterstock Images
