Feeling a little sluggish after all of the Christmas parties, to-do lists and commitments you’ve had to get through at this time of year? We’ve put together a brief background of the wonder that is Yin yoga, along with a list of three yin poses that are believed to be cleansing and detoxifying, perfect to reset you back to balance – our last little gift from us, to your liver, before the year is over!

As you may know, the origin of Yin yoga was inspired by Taoism and Traditional Chinese medicine, in which the vital life force is referred to as ‘Qi’. As in the Indian Yogi tradition, where it is called Prana, Qi is the energy that flows through all life and connects all universal things.

Like the Chakras in yoga, the energetic points in Traditional Chinese Medicine are associated with our organs and each organ is influenced by meridians – our organ’s Qi flows through its meridian. Simply put, it is believed that meridians are pathways, connecting our organs and are through which Qi flows. Poses in Yin yoga are said to target these meridians, enabling a proper flow of Qi to these areas and to bring back balance into our lives.

One of the main meridian pairs – everything in life should be a balance, so pairs are comprised of a yin and a yang organ – is the Liver (yin) and Gall Bladder (yang) meridian. This meridian pair is believed to be responsible for many energetic, physical and emotional qualities, though one specific trait is that it is said to be in control of cleansing and detoxifying – so try these poses if you’re feeling a little out of harmony with yourself after the end of the year madness!

Dragonfly

  • Come to a seated position – elevate the hips on a blanket or pillow if back is rounding
  • Take legs out in front and spread them wide to a position that you feel a stretch, but that you can hold
  • Option to stay here, support with a bolster or walk the hands forward to as far as is comfortable 

Square

  • Come to a seated position – elevate the hips on a blanket or pillow if back is rounding
  • From a cross legged position, bring one ankle to rest on the opposite knee and flex the feet 
  • Ensure both sit bones are grounding down, and gently encourage the top knee down towards the opposite foot
  • Option to use a bolster for support or gently walk hands out away from the body if you’d like more 

Sphinx/Seal

  • Come into a supine position, lying down on your stomach
  • Come up onto the elbows, ensuring elbows are aligned with shoulders, into sphinx
  • Option to create a deeper sensation, coming into Seal, by walking hands out front and wide and push in to hands
  • You can bring a bolster under the ribs for extra support

Try these poses out to stimulate the Liver & Gall Bladder meridian and bring back that energetic balance!