Hot Yoga classes at Hot Yoga Ahwatukee focus on rhythmic movement and muscle contraction, exercising the muscles by strengthening and stretching. This form of yoga is considered Yang Yoga.

Yin Yoga, on the other hand, is the opposite of Yang Yoga. Yin Yoga targets the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, and joints of the body.

Yin and Yang: Connective Tissue is Yin, Muscle Tissue is Yang

As important as it is to our physical and mental well-being to be strong, it is just as important to be flexible. Athletes don’t retire because of muscle problems. They retire because of joint problems. Bad ankles, bad knees, and bad backs force athletes to retire and old people to shuffle around. Yin Yoga postures gently stretch and rehabilitate the connective tissue that form our joints.

Because connective tissue doesn’t respond to brief, rhythmical stretches the way muscles do, Yin Yoga postures are held longer, anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes on each side. In addition, in order to effectively stretch connective tissue around a joint, Yin Yoga postures are held with the muscles relaxed. Yin Yoga postures are all done on the floor so the muscles can relax and allow the deep connective tissue surrounding the lower back, the pelvis, and the joints of the femurs to be gently stretched.

Yin Yoga is suitable for all levels of students, and is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular style of our Hot Yoga classes.