Learning the art of designing your own yin yoga shapes

[tch-anneliese-1]

I owe an immense debt to my yoga teachers who helped me see past the textbook and into each student’s own structure.

They gave me the confidence to meet each body with a toolbox of suggestions to make their pose their own … not as an excuse for not being able to tie themselves up in knots, but one that truly helps them feel the strength, stability, release and stillness as needed.

Initially, I felt students resist variations or suggestions of props, perhaps thinking the goal was to achieve a shape to keep up with the others.

But last night, as I watched the multiple screens in our Zoom room, it was sheer poetry. Each one had understood the assignment and was unabashedly designing their own asana, all to explore one target area.

In that moment I realised what a gift a forgiving practice like Yin Yoga is — or any accessible practice, for that matter.

One size doesn’t fit all. And, even a teacher recommendation is only a suggestion, perhaps one informed by study, experience and observation.

What truly matters is that you listen in as you move into a challenging but sustainable shape, where your breath is your best teacher.

So I write from a place of gratitude.

Gratitude that I stuck to my belief in the soul-stirring practice of Yin Yoga when, many times, rooms remained empty, or students signed off, unable to stay long enough to experience its wisdom.

With increased conviction in the practice, together with gentle somatics and functional movement, I arrive at each class with an unspoken promise:
You, my co-creator of the practice, will not be just a face in the crowd.

I will see you.

And together, we’ll explore what your body has to say.