How do you like to set the mood for your practice space?
My current ritual is to sweep the floor, dim the lights, and put on yoga-friendly clothes that make me feel good. These three little things really help to shift the energy in the space.
What’s your favorite way to set up your space?
Hi
I've never done an in-person yoga class, have only followed a couple of YouTube yogis. Have been trying to commit to a daily practice for the last 2 years. It's hard to know how my form is, but since finding Devi I feel a lot more comfortable in my practice, her instructions are so easy to follow. Looking forward to following and interacting with you all. I'm from New Zealand.
Join me at 7,500 feet elevation for today’s 25 minute Yin Fascia Release video, which was filmed in the Sierra Nevada high country - next to these alpine hot springs!
This practice will melt tension from the connective tissues throughout your whole body - from shoulders and spine down to hips and legs.
Yin Fascia Release
How has your body or your practice changed with the seasons or with age?
This year I’ve noticed I really crave more decompression in my lower back, so I’m holding my forward bends longer than I used to in my 30s and 40s. I’d love to hear what you’ve noticed in your own body or practice over the years.
What’s one pose you didn’t like at first but have grown to love?
For me, it’s reclined butterfly. When I was younger, I felt nothing in this pose — but now, in my 51 yo vessel, it gives me a sweet gentle stretch 😌
What’s one pose you come back to again and again?
For me it’s Dragonfly. My body just loves this combination of forward bending for the hamstrings with a straddle for the inner legs, and it releases my spine like no other pose. I’d love to hear what pose you return to most often.
In one word, how do you feel after a yin practice?
Soft. That’s the word that often comes up for me after yin. Softer body, softer mind. What word comes to mind for you?
Welcome to the app! Say hello to the other yogis in our yoga community. In a comment below, let us know where you're located plus your favorite yin pose. Bonus points if you share a recent selfie! Here's me holding the earth together in Utah's Canyonlands 💪
What was your first experience of yin yoga like?
I’ll never forget my first yin class about 20 years ago, where an athletic male yoga teacher had us doing dragon for the loooongest time. I hated it! He didn't guide us to relax into it, so I thought I was supposed to engage and square my hips the whole time. I got the impression that yin was for people who wanted to force their bodies into shapes.
I didn't change my mind until I saw Paul Grilley's Anatomy For Yoga DVD. Paul's teaching pulled me into yin – reluctantly at first, to be honest – but the more I studied with him over the years, the more I ended becoming the yin lover that I am.
Do you practice in the morning, evening, or whenever you can?
Lately I’ve found evening practices work really well for me. It helps release tension that might otherwise keep me awake. I used to be a morning person for yoga, but now my rhythm has shifted. ☀️🌙