Yin Yoga is the slow one. Instead of flowing from pose to pose, you settle into a shape and stay there for two to five minutes while the stretch works its way into the deeper tissue. Hips, lower back, the bits a normal workout never really reaches.
It sounds easy. It is not always comfortable. But there is no rushing, no keeping up with anyone, and most people walk out feeling like something has finally let go.
You do not need to be flexible, and you do not need to have done yoga before. Every pose has props and an easier option, and the instructor talks you into and out of each one.
We start on the mat with a few minutes of breathing to slow everything down. From there it is a series of floor-based poses held for a few minutes each, working through the hips, hamstrings, lower back, spine and shoulders.
Bolsters and blocks hold you up so the muscles can switch off. That is the whole point of Yin. If you are gripping to stay in the shape, you are not getting much out of it.
The class finishes with a short relaxation while everything settles.
Two to five minutes in each pose. The first minute is the stretch. What happens after that is where the change comes from.
Bolsters and blocks so you can be supported instead of straining. Using props is not cheating, it is how the class works.
Slow breathing through every hold, with cues the whole way. It settles the nervous system down, which is half the reason people come.
Anyone who is tight, stressed, sore, or not sleeping well.
We get members who train hard through the week and use Yin to undo some of it. We get people who sit at a desk all day and can feel it in their hips. We get people well into their seventies. Beginners turn up every week, and nobody is watching you.
If you are pregnant, managing an injury or dealing with a health condition, check with your doctor first, then have a quick word with the instructor before class so they can give you alternatives.
Yin Yoga, Friday 11.30am
Yoga, Wednesday 6.00pm
Active Fitness Medowie, 58 Ferodale Road, Medowie
Water bottle and clothes you can move in. Bring a jumper or a pair of socks if you feel the cold, because you are still for long stretches. Mats, bolsters, and blocks are provided.
View, book and cancel your spot through the MyClub Fitness app.
Yin is not a class you leave feeling smashed. The difference turns up later, and usually somewhere ordinary.
We are at 58 Ferodale Road, Medowie. Members travel in from right across the area, including Raymond Terrace, Salt Ash, Williamtown, Tanilba Bay and Lemon Tree Passage.
Yin Yoga is part of the group fitness program, so it is included with your membership. Not a member yet and want to try a casual class? Call us on (02) 4003 4868 or email admin@activefitnessmedowie.com.au. Casual bookings can only be made and used during staffed hours.
Pace and purpose. A normal class keeps moving, holds are short, and your muscles are working the whole time. Yin holds one shape for minutes, targets the connective tissue underneath, and asks your muscles to do the opposite of work.
No. If you were already flexible you would not need the class. Everyone starts where they start.
Not in the sweaty sense. It works on range, recovery and stress instead. It sits well alongside harder training rather than replacing it.
Stretch-N-Flex is more direct. It opens up range through specific muscle groups and joints, and it moves along. Yin holds longer, goes deeper into the connective tissue, and leans into breath and stillness.
Let the instructor know before you start. There are props to get you closer to the ground, and seated options for most of what we do.
Yin Yoga runs Friday mornings at Active Fitness Medowie. Bring a water bottle, wear something warm and see how you feel afterwards.
Active Fitness Medowie. Locally owned, community focused.
