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Yin Yoga: Principles and Practice
The 10th Anniversary Edition of Yin Yoga: Outline of a Quiet Practice by Paul Grilley brings together in a fresh way the ancient wisdom of acupuncture and Taoism with Hindu yoga practices. With over 80,000 copies sold, Grilley's book has been enhanced with new materials describing the evolution of Yin Yoga within the Yoga world over the last decade plus new reference materials on anatomy and the practice of Yin Yoga.
Yoga as practiced in the US is almost exclusively Yang or muscular in nature. The Yin aspect of Yoga (using postures that stretch connective tissue) is virtually unknown but vital for a balanced approach to physical and mental health.
Paul Grilley outlines how to practice postures in a Yin way. Grilley includes an explanation of Modern Meridian Theory, which states that the meridians of acupuncture theory are currents flowing through the connective tissues of the body. Yin Yoga is specifically designed to address these tissues.
The two major differences between a Yin and a Yang Yoga practice are that Yin postures should be done with the muscles relaxed and should be held a long time. This is because connective tissue does not stretch like muscle and will not respond well to brief stresses. In addition, Yin Yoga better prepares people for meditation. For yoga practitioners looking for something beyond physical postures. Yin Yoga addresses the deeper spiritual dimensions of yoga, with helpful sections on chakras, breathing exercises, and meditation.
Yoga as practiced in the US is almost exclusively Yang or muscular in nature. The Yin aspect of Yoga (using postures that stretch connective tissue) is virtually unknown but vital for a balanced approach to physical and mental health.
Paul Grilley outlines how to practice postures in a Yin way. Grilley includes an explanation of Modern Meridian Theory, which states that the meridians of acupuncture theory are currents flowing through the connective tissues of the body. Yin Yoga is specifically designed to address these tissues.
The two major differences between a Yin and a Yang Yoga practice are that Yin postures should be done with the muscles relaxed and should be held a long time. This is because connective tissue does not stretch like muscle and will not respond well to brief stresses. In addition, Yin Yoga better prepares people for meditation. For yoga practitioners looking for something beyond physical postures. Yin Yoga addresses the deeper spiritual dimensions of yoga, with helpful sections on chakras, breathing exercises, and meditation.
128 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 22, 2016
Concise book about yin theory and practice - good stuff for first 2/3 of book. Lost me at the end. Bernie Clark's yin books are more comprehensive and better written, so if you want to learn more about yin, I recommend starting there.
April 11, 2016
This is really good! Particularly enjoyed the introduction. The lady is wearing a VERY shiny unitard.
May 7, 2020
First part of book was good and practical quide. Second part of the book was complete mess. It was not good explained, it was messy all over place which made it so boring. It should of been most interesting part of the book. Lots of people have knowledge but not all know how to share it. That is why being a teacher is a calling that not many can do. Good teachers change our lives. We rember them trough whole life. I remember my music teacher from when l was 10. His words still fresh in my mind and l am not even interested in music but he discovered a whole new world for me with his great talent to teach. This was definitely not the case in this book. I give 3 stars for effort but in reality as a book it probably deserve 2.
January 22, 2023
“Our yoga practice should be alive and adaptable to our needs as we go through the seasons of our lives.�
February 27, 2023
This was written by the founder of yin yoga. The author talks about the teachers who influenced his approach to yoga example Dr Hiroshi Motoyama who was a Shinto priest and scientist in Tokyo who told him his meridian theory (a synthesis of east and west on mine and body connection); Pauly Zink (Taoist yoga); and Dr Gary Parker (anatomy).
This is a simple accessible book. It is useful as an introduction but it is not as a substantial as the free online version by Bernie Clark ("Yin Insights"). It does not cover much anatomy and each topic is touch on very briefly only but it does give some introductory postures to try. Most are similar to half a yoga classical postures - only with different names. You just have to hold its posture for 3 to 5 minutes.
This is a simple accessible book. It is useful as an introduction but it is not as a substantial as the free online version by Bernie Clark ("Yin Insights"). It does not cover much anatomy and each topic is touch on very briefly only but it does give some introductory postures to try. Most are similar to half a yoga classical postures - only with different names. You just have to hold its posture for 3 to 5 minutes.
March 9, 2022
Hmmm. I liked this book. I have looked literally for years to find what Grilley has termed "yin yoga" and his explanations were interesting and helpful. Until about 70% of the way through the book where he dives very hard into chakras and various methods to dissolve into the universe. Although I don't believe in much of the theology behind it, I don't begrudge anyone the right to delve into something that purports to make you a more self-aware and loving person, and I certainly found the descriptions to be an impressive example of what the brain is capable of creating, believing, and achieving. However, at the risk of sounding like a cultural appropriating colonizer, I really was just interested in the physical aspect, and could see the last bit as being more relevant to people who intentionally seek out theology of reincarnation, Shakti, and chakra energy meditation. All in all a good helpful book that had me singing "Chakras! Chakras!" a la AtLA.
February 3, 2018
A Good book to introduce yourself to the practice of Yin Yoga
Quite compact but well explained, although a bit slow at the end of the book.
Quite compact but well explained, although a bit slow at the end of the book.
November 29, 2008
After practicing power vinyasa yoga for years this book came along at just the right time for me. It teaches how and why to sit for a long time in a posture. It's nice to feel the passive work going on as the body lets go of the tension in the connective tissue.
September 30, 2011
This book was an awesome read. I have always liked Yin Yoga, and now I appreciate it even more. This was a quick read that I will come back to over and over. If you are having any joint pain, you should check this out.
April 21, 2021
Great book with a simple, straightforward style and wonderful photo illustrations of all the postures. Although Vinyasa yoga seems to be more popular in the United States where I live, Yin Yoga is much closer to my personal conception of what yoga is, with its emphasis on increasing flexibility by maintaining postures for longer periods of time.
I've never heard Vinyasa yoga referred to as "Yang" yoga. But if exercise consists of cardio, strength, and stretching, Vinyasa appears to focus on the yang of cardio and strength, while Yin Yoga appears to focus on the yin of stretching/mobility/flexibility.
Also, what a relief to be "allowed" to have a curved back rather than being commanded to keep my back straight lol
The idea of meridians appealed to me, because I have also studied taichi. In taichi, the theory is that qi is energy that flows though the body, and in Yin Yoga, Prana is energy that flows through the meridians. Recently, scientific articles have reported discovery of the interstitium, and some have even called this network of fluid-filled spaces a newly discovered organ of the body.
The concept of "stretching" is usually applied to muscles and perhaps tendons. Yin Yoga makes me think about the flexibility of ligaments, which is a new intention for me.
This book is a great pair with Awake! Aware! Alive!.
I've never heard Vinyasa yoga referred to as "Yang" yoga. But if exercise consists of cardio, strength, and stretching, Vinyasa appears to focus on the yang of cardio and strength, while Yin Yoga appears to focus on the yin of stretching/mobility/flexibility.
Also, what a relief to be "allowed" to have a curved back rather than being commanded to keep my back straight lol
The idea of meridians appealed to me, because I have also studied taichi. In taichi, the theory is that qi is energy that flows though the body, and in Yin Yoga, Prana is energy that flows through the meridians. Recently, scientific articles have reported discovery of the interstitium, and some have even called this network of fluid-filled spaces a newly discovered organ of the body.
The concept of "stretching" is usually applied to muscles and perhaps tendons. Yin Yoga makes me think about the flexibility of ligaments, which is a new intention for me.
This book is a great pair with Awake! Aware! Alive!.
September 6, 2021
A super fast read to get the basics of yin yoga and where this Indian system converges with Chinese traditional medicine/Daoist thought. It's really approachable and non-intimidating for those who are looking to get an intro to this yoga style, which was perfect for me.
I did wish it went deeper into the ancient Chinese philosophies that influence this long-stretching, feminine based yogasana style. There's so much to unpack when it comes to these two modalities of healing, and their intersections are truly quite fascinating. Since this was an introduction sort of book though, perhaps it left much of this out though and just concentrated on brief overviews of what we need to know to practice. Overall, I do recommend it.
I did wish it went deeper into the ancient Chinese philosophies that influence this long-stretching, feminine based yogasana style. There's so much to unpack when it comes to these two modalities of healing, and their intersections are truly quite fascinating. Since this was an introduction sort of book though, perhaps it left much of this out though and just concentrated on brief overviews of what we need to know to practice. Overall, I do recommend it.
February 24, 2018
This is more than a book about yoga poses. It is a book that provides a yoga approach based on anatomy, physiology and history. The reader learns in easy to understand explanations about the yin and yang of yoga and how the two are inter-related and benefit each other. Then there is the "how to" section that makes yin yoga easy to comprehend and actually do. I love the page on round spine versus straight spine and how both are good for different reasons. The different names for the poses made me look twice but with an ink pen on my hard copy I was able to resolve that. There are three yin yoga sequences provided which is always appreciated. Yin yoga could certainly be done simply for the sake of doing yoga but using it toward the goal of meditation, suggestions of "how to" included, makes very good sense: learn to settle the body and one will learn to quiet the mind.
February 20, 2021
Great info if you are new to Yin yoga, which I am. It covered a lot of topics, some of which I just jot it down to come back to explore later. I was able to download the e-book from the public library system which is really nice. Although this is probably the type of book that would be great to own because as your yoga practice evolves, there’s tons of things in here that would be worth revisiting and rereading. Great intro to Yin!
March 14, 2021
I found the book to be just okay. My teacher spoke about it a lot during my yoga TTC so I had a high expectation when I started reading it. I don't think I will read it again but I will keep it for sure in my yoga books collection.
I liked the philosophy part and how he talked about yin yoga not being a total separate practice and the need to yang exercise in our life to have a more complete practice.
I liked the philosophy part and how he talked about yin yoga not being a total separate practice and the need to yang exercise in our life to have a more complete practice.
June 29, 2017
Interesting book
I liked this book although I think I was expecting more information from an anatomical perspective, what I ended up learning was quite different. I'm not disappointed though. It was all quite interesting.
I liked this book although I think I was expecting more information from an anatomical perspective, what I ended up learning was quite different. I'm not disappointed though. It was all quite interesting.
July 28, 2017
Good beginning source on yin
This is a good book on beginning a practice into yin yoga. For teachers, it does not offer enough options for the types of students that you will receive in class.
This is a good book on beginning a practice into yin yoga. For teachers, it does not offer enough options for the types of students that you will receive in class.
August 6, 2017
A good book for quick referencing and flicking though, with the poses and sequences expressed well; easy to read and understand. I use it often and flick though it when planning my own Yin classes to teach :)
October 28, 2017
Great I intro to Yin yoga principles for beginners
I like that the book explained a lot of information in a simple and organized way. It also offered practical ways to experiment in my own practice.
I like that the book explained a lot of information in a simple and organized way. It also offered practical ways to experiment in my own practice.
July 14, 2018
I nice introduction to Yin Yoga practice. It's a slim volume, but not scant on information. All of the major yin postures are demonstrated through nice clear photographs and there's some fascinating additional information.
April 8, 2019
3.5
very good introduction to the topic of yin yoga! I loved the first part and enjoyed the middle one but the last part of this book lost me. Not very readable or smoth. But it is worth to read this book as an introduction.
very good introduction to the topic of yin yoga! I loved the first part and enjoyed the middle one but the last part of this book lost me. Not very readable or smoth. But it is worth to read this book as an introduction.
May 20, 2019
Very educative read, giving insights from both sides of cultures (east and west). With nice references to scientific researches with supporting facts to the mysticisms of the meridian systems of the body.
Do recommend!
Do recommend!
August 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this book it is not really a book about how to practice Yin Yoga but about what is happening in your body during practice and to provide some guidance around the foundation of Yin. The book is very easy to read.
January 17, 2021
Fascinating and concise introduction to yin yoga, the subtle body, meridian theory, and chakra meditation. Grilley was Bernie Clark’s teacher, and this book goes hand-in-hand with Clark’s better known yin books.
June 26, 2017
A reference for a lifetime!
November 16, 2017
Amazing book, a must read for all yoga instructors & for all the practitioners who want to deepen their understanding & practice
March 1, 2018
A very good book on Yin Yoga, covering the practical aspects of the practice, from asana to meditation.
A short and sweet book that has clarified some conceptos about Yoga on which I had doubts.
A short and sweet book that has clarified some conceptos about Yoga on which I had doubts.
September 10, 2018
Very light information on yin practice, interesting thoughts about stretching connective tissue.
January 1, 2019
very easy understand and follow.
June 9, 2019
Very informative and shows a few poses to do.
February 22, 2022
I liked the insights into how yin yoga came to existence. But personally I would love more insights into how to practice and less about the part where it got rather vague (chakras, bandhas).
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