Yin yoga is considered to be one of the more meditative branches of yoga. Instead of a powerful, energized Vinyasa flow or a strengthening Hatha class, yin yoga targets long, slow, and peaceful asanas. Becoming a yin yoga teacher means teaching students to become aware of their "inner silence" and gently guiding them in that direction. Taking a yin yoga teacher course can be a life changing experience, helping you find your own inner silence as you guide others on that journey.
Tell Me About Yin Yoga
The aim of yin yoga is to improve flexibility, increase circulation in the joints, and improve the flow of qi. Qi is rooted in ancient Chinese medicine and is defined as a subtle energy that improves the health of organs, strengthens immunity, and aids in emotional well-being. Asanas, or poses, are held for extended periods of time, sometimes as long as five minutes. Yogis who attend yin classes are often seeking a more meditative approach to their practice, aiming to summon a peaceful quality that interconnects their mind and body.
Because yin yoga merely puts moderate stress on the connective tissues of the body--making this a great class for athletes--this is usually considered a complementary form of yoga to a more active yoga practice.
What Goes Into Teaching a Yin Yoga Class?
Since each asana is held for prolonged periods of time, teachers often give "dharma talks" to their students. These are gentle monologues that impart various forms of wisdom upon the students. They can be traditional tales of Buddhism, poems, songs, or simple wisdom drawn from their own personal experiences. These talks help students connect to a deeper part of their body, connecting their physical selves with their emotional selves. Generally, teachers weave in Buddhism and Taoism during their monologues, helping their students reach into unfamiliar territory to deal with areas in their body that may also seem unfamiliar.
A truly successful yin yoga teacher will have solid experience in the yang side of yoga, for there is no yin without the yang. The yang portion of yoga is the more active, ebullient practices like Viniyoga, Ashtanga, and Iyengar. While a student takes internal heat and lengthening and contracting of the muscles from yang, yin provides lengthening and softening of the deep connective tissues.
The teacher is merely responsible for guiding their students through the asanas, providing guidance on execution and offering the right amount of counter poses. Counter poses are as simple as working the left side of the body after the right has also been worked. A good teacher will know the right amount of counterbalance to give to their students. In that realm, they will also know the appropriateness of linking asanas, finding the best flow to allow the students to reap the most benefits from their practice.
Becoming a Teacher
Prospective teachers generally begin with a 200 hour yoga teacher training, with little to no specific emphasis on yin. While there is no specific certification to teach yin yoga, a responsible teacher will have their yang teaching complete. For those who have a 200 hour certification, there are additional continuing education courses that provide more in-depth training on teaching the yin style of yoga. These specific yin-based courses are taken through local yoga studios or through more specialized seminars/courses, some of which are based in exotic locales like Thailand or India.
Becoming a yin yoga teacher begins with knowing the yang side of yoga; remembering that there can't be one without the other is critical to being a supportive, thorough teacher in yin yoga.
Tell Me About Yin Yoga
The aim of yin yoga is to improve flexibility, increase circulation in the joints, and improve the flow of qi. Qi is rooted in ancient Chinese medicine and is defined as a subtle energy that improves the health of organs, strengthens immunity, and aids in emotional well-being. Asanas, or poses, are held for extended periods of time, sometimes as long as five minutes. Yogis who attend yin classes are often seeking a more meditative approach to their practice, aiming to summon a peaceful quality that interconnects their mind and body.
Because yin yoga merely puts moderate stress on the connective tissues of the body--making this a great class for athletes--this is usually considered a complementary form of yoga to a more active yoga practice.
What Goes Into Teaching a Yin Yoga Class?
Since each asana is held for prolonged periods of time, teachers often give "dharma talks" to their students. These are gentle monologues that impart various forms of wisdom upon the students. They can be traditional tales of Buddhism, poems, songs, or simple wisdom drawn from their own personal experiences. These talks help students connect to a deeper part of their body, connecting their physical selves with their emotional selves. Generally, teachers weave in Buddhism and Taoism during their monologues, helping their students reach into unfamiliar territory to deal with areas in their body that may also seem unfamiliar.
A truly successful yin yoga teacher will have solid experience in the yang side of yoga, for there is no yin without the yang. The yang portion of yoga is the more active, ebullient practices like Viniyoga, Ashtanga, and Iyengar. While a student takes internal heat and lengthening and contracting of the muscles from yang, yin provides lengthening and softening of the deep connective tissues.
The teacher is merely responsible for guiding their students through the asanas, providing guidance on execution and offering the right amount of counter poses. Counter poses are as simple as working the left side of the body after the right has also been worked. A good teacher will know the right amount of counterbalance to give to their students. In that realm, they will also know the appropriateness of linking asanas, finding the best flow to allow the students to reap the most benefits from their practice.
Becoming a Teacher
Prospective teachers generally begin with a 200 hour yoga teacher training, with little to no specific emphasis on yin. While there is no specific certification to teach yin yoga, a responsible teacher will have their yang teaching complete. For those who have a 200 hour certification, there are additional continuing education courses that provide more in-depth training on teaching the yin style of yoga. These specific yin-based courses are taken through local yoga studios or through more specialized seminars/courses, some of which are based in exotic locales like Thailand or India.
Becoming a yin yoga teacher begins with knowing the yang side of yoga; remembering that there can't be one without the other is critical to being a supportive, thorough teacher in yin yoga.
Faye Martins, is a Yoga teacher and a graduate of the Yoga teacher training program at: Aura Wellness Center in, Attleboro, MA. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/
