The Power of Words: Why It’s Time to Update the Language of Yin Yoga, by Josh Summers MaOM In Yin Yoga, our words hold just as much weight as our actions. The way we speak about the practice can deepen our students’ understanding, offer clarity, and encourage self-compassion. Or, our words can create confusions, misunderstandings […]
Siobhan’s story: Integrating the Four Foundations
Siobhan’s story: Integrating the Four Foundations of Yin Yoga In the vibrant city of Cork, Ireland, amidst the hum of life, we find our Yin Yoga student, Siobhan. A devoted yoga practitioner with a thirst for knowledge, she had explored every style from power vinyasa to restorative yoga. Yet, despite her dedication, she often felt […]
Kamala Masters | Exploring the Depths of Insight Meditation
Kamala Masters is one of the founders and teachers of the Vipassana Metta Foundation on Maui. She teaches retreats in the Theravada tradition at venues worldwide, including being a Guiding Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society at Barre, Massachusetts. Practicing since 1975, her teachers have been the late Anagarika Munindra of India and the late […]
Miles Sherts | The “I” of the Problem
Josh and Miles explore the problem of being somebody and the role of the ego in creating internal conflict and external turmoil. We highlight the importance of addressing the cause of suffering and turmoil rather than focusing on the symptoms. We also touch on the concept of the ego as an avatar or projected […]
What Good Qi Does | The Six Functions of Qi
In Chinese Medicine, when we think about the health or dysfunction of our bodies and minds, we talk about the health of our Qi, or our vital energy. When our Qi is thriving, our bodies and minds feel grounded, energized and strong. We eat and digest food well; we rest well; we engage in meaningful […]
Tami Simon | The Dharma of Dogs (republished)
In 2018, I interviewed Tami Simon, founder of Sounds True, about a book she edited called The Dharma of Dogs. The original interview was published by MeaningofLife.tv on February 15, 2018. Five years later, to the day, my dog and life companion, Ozzie passed. In loving memory of Ozzie, I’m republishing the interview. As I […]
The Four Foundations of Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is an elegantly simple style of floor-based postural yoga. But Yin Yoga’s simplicity rests upon a foundation of at least four simple-yet-also-sophisticated principles of practice: safety, relaxation, receptivity and creativity. With the growing popularity and interest in Yin Yoga, a revisiting of these four foundational principles will hopefully be of benefit […]
The Biochemistry of Qi
When our Qi is harmonized we feel physically relaxed, emotionally grounded, mentally calm and engaged. In other words, Qi harmonization is the basis for a thriving life.
The Tao of Progress
Recently, a question came in about how to assess one’s “progress” in meditation. The question captivated me because I’ve heard many ways of describing meditative progress. In a recent talk, I took a first pass at answering the student’s question.
The Way of the Inner Bodhisattva: How to Work With Internal Parts
Periodically checking in with “Inner Parts” in your practice tends to promote a greater harmonization of their energies, leading to less frequent periods of internal conflict amongst them. And the inverse seems to be true as well: Neglecting to check in with these parts can lay the groundwork for more intra-personal and inter-personal conflicts.
Why Yin Yoga Works: A Scientific Explanation
Yin Yoga emphasizes passive, static postures, held for long periods of time, with our muscles in a relaxed state. Applying this “positive stress” helps promote the strength, vitality, hydration, and mobility of our connective tissues. Let’s look at why.
Playing the Edge in Yin Yoga
The “Target Area” is the region of the body that we are intending to positively stress and influence by the practice and execution of our Yin Yoga posture. But in “Playing the Edge,” we want to make sure that we recognize and understand the appropriate and inappropriate sensations in the posture.
How to Prevent Injury in Yin Yoga: The Functional Approach to Alignment
A key principle of functional alignment in Yin Yoga is NOT stressing an area of the body you don’t intend to stress. A good way to understand this is through Swan Pose. Let’s look more closely at the anatomy of Swan Pose and the differences between aesthetic vs. functional alignment.
Is It Safe to Compress the Spine in Yin Yoga?
To understand the differences between a yang and a yin approach to the same pose, let’s consider the common cues and benefits of Yang Yoga’s Cobra Pose and Yin Yoga’s Seal Pose.
Does Alignment Matter in Yin Yoga Poses?
In Yin Yoga, as in all intelligent forms of physical yoga, alignment matters. But alignment in Yin Yoga has little to do with whether your foot is pointed in the “right” direction, or whether your knee is at a precise 90-degree angle. In Yin Yoga, the functional intention is the only reason to do the pose.
Common Myths About Yin Yoga
In order to understand what Yin Yoga is really about, it helps to directly address what it’s not about. Clear and safe instructions on how to practice Yin Yoga are critically important, so here’s some straight talk about some of the biggest misconceptions out there.
The Bitter and Sweet Sides of Yin Yoga
When students come to a Yin Yoga class, I often get the sense that they think of Yin Yoga as gentle, quiet, and meditative. This idea seems to stem from a common misconception that Yin Yoga is a form of restorative yoga. Nothing could be further from the truth.
6 Potential Benefits of Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga offers many benefits – on a physical level, an energetic level, and a mental level as well. If you’ve been thinking about trying “the other half” of yoga, here are 6 reasons to get started – and stay consistent – with your Yin Yoga practice.
What Is Yin Yoga?
As an introduction to the practice of Yin Yoga, here is a high-level overview about what Yin Yoga is, how it differs from other styles of yoga, and some of the many benefits of a Yin Yoga practice.
Interview with Stephen Asma: Why We Need Religion
I had the great pleasure of interviewing Stephen Asma, author of Why We Need Religion – a book that dramatically changed my view of religion and its role in our culture. We discussed a wide variety of topics, from how religion has shaped our emotional lives for millennia to predictions for how religion will evolve in America.
Interview with Robert Wright: Where Yoga Meets Meditation, and Mindful Resistance
In our recent conversation, we discuss the relationship between yoga and meditation, and then I prompt Bob to talk about his new project The Mindful Resistance Newsletter. It is an outstanding weekly digest of current events, presented soberly and succinctly. Bob’s intention is to mute the flame of emotional outrage and overcome the divisiveness of tribalism in order to promote real cognitive empathy and more beneficial engagement.