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Josh & Terry Summers

Josh & Terry Summers

Creative and functional approach to the spiritual path, weaving insights and practices from Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ancient wisdom traditions

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Yin Yoga Essentials

The Four Foundations of Yin Yoga

December 10, 2022

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 […]

Your Joints, Your Qi – How Yin Yoga Harmonizes Qi: A Holistic Model – Part 3

July 13, 2021

The third installment of this series focuses on the most physical mechanism by which I believe Yin Yoga harmonizes Qi, namely how Yin Yoga impacts the state of energy in the joints.

How Yin Yoga Harmonizes Qi: A Holistic Model – Part 2

July 1, 2021

The second installment of this essay series will lay out a theoretical framework for how Yin Yoga can help support the harmonization of Qi from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

How Yin Yoga Harmonizes Qi: A Holistic Model – Part 1

June 10, 2021

This essay series will draw out some of the many hypothetical mechanisms of how the practice of Yin Yoga can be a powerful tool for harmonizing one’s Qi.

The Biochemistry of Qi

April 14, 2021

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.

5 Essential Yin Yoga Poses

November 11, 2020

Embrace the profound simplicity of the Yin Yoga practice with these five basic postures. Physically, this sequence targets all lines of the body for optimal health and function, while providing a necessary nudge towards energetic and emotional harmony.

The Four Principles of Yin Yoga

November 6, 2020

Before practicing, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the four main principles of Yin Yoga. Please read through the following at least a few times to ensure you are practicing safely and intelligently. 

The Summers’ Supine Sequence

April 16, 2020

Part of a Supine Sequence for Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

If you’re in need of some Yin Yoga, but don’t feel like doing much more than lying down, this supine sequence is for you. The entire practice is done on your back, or supine position. It’s about as Yin as Yin Yoga can get, with seamless transitions from one posture to the next and not much effort required.

Why Yin Yoga Works: A Scientific Explanation

December 11, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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

November 25, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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

November 13, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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?

October 30, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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?

October 16, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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

October 9, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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

October 2, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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

September 18, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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?

September 4, 2019

An Introduction to Yin Yoga by Josh Summers

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 David Lesondak: Fascia, Your Body’s “Intranet”

March 13, 2018

Yin Yoga, Meditation, Fascia, fascia science, fascial system, Interviews, MeaningofLifeTV, Meaning of Life TV, Fascia What it is and Why it Matters

I had the great pleasure of speaking with David Lesondak about all things fascia. David has the great ability to explain challenging concepts in plain English that are easy to understand. If you do yoga, you’ll want to listen to what he has to say.

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Recommended Posts

How Yin Yoga Harmonizes Qi: A Holistic Model – Part 1

The Way of Yin – Receptivity and Creativity on the Path

The Biochemistry of Qi

The Four Principles of Yin Yoga

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