I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been very active this winter. Staying indoors, nice and warm has been the way to go especially since this winter was been colder than in previous years in my opinion. I miss being in the outdoors and active, but winter just makes a person want to stay in and hibernate. I have been thinking about yoga lately, but that sounds good for summer as it’s rather cold outside. But what if you can do yoga indoors and in the comfort of your own home?
It is possible, and Sibylle Sharon who is a is a Consciousness Coach™️ and Trainer, Time to Think™️ Facilitator and Coach, Enneagram Practitioner and Yin Yoga teacher brought this to my attention…Yin Yoga.
What is Yin Yoga and how do I benefit from it you may ask?
Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga as exercise, incorporating principles of traditional Chinese medicine, with asanas that are held for longer periods of time than in other styles.
According to Sibylle, Yin Yoga is a much slower practice than the more widely known, regular “yang” yoga practice. Yin Yoga targets joints, deep connective tissues, ligaments and even bones. This approach promotes flexibility and mobility in areas often perceived as non-malleable, or non-elastic especially hips, pelvis, shoulders, and lower spine. Areas that carry a lot of tension, especially as you age. It helps with stress, anxiety, sleep, and calms down the sympathetic nervous system and activates the so called “rest and digest” – your parasympathetic nervous system! Yin Yoga stimulates and balances the flow of life force energy (also known as Chi or Prana) along what is known as Fascia in Western medicine, Nadis and Chakras in Ayurvedic Medicine, and Meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
2022 has been a busy and challenging year for all of us with the impact that the pandemic has had on the world and how load shedding not so long ago interrupted our daily lives and businesses. In Sibylle’s recent blog post The Emotional Benefits of Yin Yoga she discusses how stress, and each emotion can be harmonised and balanced through Ying Yoga practice. This helps to have a calming effect on the nervous system so that we can manage stressful situations in a calm manner.
One of the great benefits of Yin Yoga is that it can be practiced in the comfort of your home and Sibylle offers weekly online classes. With warmer days approaching, you may be thinking, well I am interested in doing Yin Yoga, but what I am really looking for is a break away to clear my mind and get reenergised for the rest of the year, then the Conscious Retreat is just what you need. Sibylle and Private Chef, Award Winning Cookbook Author and Consciousness Coach™ Practitioner Alix Verrips will be hosting their Conscious Retreat in majestical Knysna, South Africa between 25-28 August 2022. Daily Yin Yoga and meditation practice will be one of the wonderful things that you can look forward to.
Sunny days are on their way and it’s time to make the rest of 2022 your best year yet. Instead of waiting for the end of year break, why not book some time out for yourself and your friends to Retreat Intentionally? Click here for more information and to book send an email to hello@consciousretreats.co.za. Visit the Conscious Retreat Instagram page for more tips and information on what you can expect from this fantastic retreat.
Information courtesy of Sibylle Sharon and Conscious Retreats.
