Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Yin/Yang Yoga Mean?
Yin/Yang yoga is a practice that balances the slow-paced Yin yoga with the traditional Yang yoga (Ashtanga and Hatha). Yin/Yang yoga has its roots in China in the Taoist concepts of yin — a feminine, passive, cooling energy — and yang — a masculine, dynamic, warming energy.
Just as the Taoists believe that yin and yang complement each other and one cannot exist without the other, the Yin/Yang yoga practice uses both types of yoga to provide both physical and spiritual balance.
Yogapedia Explains Yin/Yang Yoga
In Yin yoga, the poses are held for a long period of time — typically three to five minutes or longer — to target the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, rather than focus on the muscles. As a result, the poses are more passive holds with little active engagement of the muscles. A Yin/Yang yoga practice often begins with yin poses.
Developed in India, Yang yoga is what the Western world thinks of as yoga — Hatha and Ashtanga yoga asanas and vinyasas that warm the body and stretch and strengthen the muscles. Yin/Yang yoga typically includes the yang portion of practice in the second half of class.
By combining the two styles of yoga, Yin/Yang yoga improves energy and fitness while promoting relaxation and healing.
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.
Synonyms
Yin-Yang Yoga
Yin Yang Yoga