Settling into Stillness: Taoist Winter Wisdom for Yin Yoga
In this episode of my Yin Yoga podcast, I dive into the wisdom of winter according to Taoism and Chinese Medicine. We’ll explore how this deeply yin season encourages rest and reflection, along with practical tips to integrate this wisdom into our practice and daily life. I’ll discuss the importance of conserving energy, the connection to the water element, and how we can prepare ourselves for the renewal of spring. Winter and water elements in Taoism are … Read More
Book Review: Yin Yoga Principles and Practice By Paul Grilley
Book Review – Yin Yoga, Principles and Practice by Paul Grilley The reason I decided to start doing book reviews is, that there are a lot of teachers who are a bit newer that have come to teaching, in more recent years. Those newer teachers may not be as familiar with Yin Yoga and the founder of Yin Paul Grilley (or at least the founder of Yin in the way that I practice and teach it) So they may also … Read More
Dancing with the Tao: Dhugal Meachem on Yin Yoga and Taoism
This episode delves into the philosophy of Taoism, drawing connections between Yin Yoga and Taoism’s principles of wu wei (non-forcing action). My Guest Dhugal Meachem, is a friend and colleague with a rich background in Tibetan meditation, Qigong, and Tai Chi. Dougal shares his journey from practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong in Hong Kong to discovering Yoga and then eventually Paul Grilley and Yin Yoga. In this episode, Dhugal offers practical insights into how embracing quiet and stillness through … Read More
Chakras vs Meridians in Yin Yoga
Today’s topic can be a bit of a tricky one—a common question I get is about the origins and philosophical roots of Yin Yoga. Is it rooted in Indian philosophy or does it have its connections with Taoism and Chinese medicine? As Is often the case in Yin Yoga the answer is yes….no …well it depends. This often leaves new teachers puzzled about whether to discuss chakras or meridians or perhaps both in their classes. Let’s dive into this. Yin … Read More
Beware Of The Yin Police
Beware of the Yin Police In this episode of the Yin Yoga podcast, I delve into the topic of ‘Yin Yoga Policing’, focusing on defining what constitutes a Yin Yoga pose. This episode was Inspired by questions from Yin Yoga Facebook groups, I share my thoughts and personal experiences, especially from my training with Mr. Yin Yoga teacher Paul Grilley. Paul (and I) emphasize the need for critical thinking rather than following a dogmatic approach, advocating for a more flexible … Read More
The Five Elements 101 & Yin Yoga
The Five Elements: An Overview In this episode, we’re going to talk about the Five Elements according to Daoism and TCM, which are closely tied to Feng Shui. It’s a broad, subject that I cover more in-depth in my teacher training, but today’s session will serve as a basic overview—or as I prefer to call it, a “Five Elements 101.” These elemental theories go into a lot of interconnected aspects including tissues, organs, emotions, and even the times of day, … Read More
Yin Yoga For Sobriety – with Daphne Luke
Yin Yoga and Sobriety: A Deep Dive with Daphne Luke In this episode of the Yin Yoga podcast, my guest Daphne Luke and I explore the profound impact of Yin Yoga on addiction recovery and sobriety. Daphne is a seasoned teacher with both Bernie Clarks’ 50-hour Yin Yoga Training and 500 hours of Yin Yoga Training with Paul Grilley. Daphne has been practicing Yoga since the 90s and teaching Yoga for two decades. Initially developed a love of Yoga through … Read More
Yin Yoga For Spine Health
Welcome to this week’s episode: Yin Yoga and Spine Health. This was a requested topic, and it’s something I encounter often in questions like, “My student has lower back pain, what sequence can I give them?” or “How do I address back issues in my classes?” As a Yoga therapist with a specialty in back care, I’ve worked with individuals suffering from back issues for many years, and I’m happy to share my experience with you. The Importance of a … Read More
Loving Kindness for Yin Yoga
This week on the podcast I’m going to discuss the practice of Loving Kindness Meditation, or Metta for Yin Yoga. In this episode, I’ll share in detail the who, what, when, why, and how of incorporating this powerful meditation into our Yin Yoga practice. Today’s topic is very near and dear to my heart I’ve been practicing Metta for nearly 20 years, integrating it into my personal meditation practice and classes for my students. It’s become a staple in … Read More
The Art of Letting Go: Fall, The Metal Element and Yin Yoga
Fall and The Metal Element: An Overview As we start transitioning into fall, it’s a time linked deeply with the metal element in TCM. Fall marks a shift from the extroverted, yang energy of summer to a more introverted, yin phase. The Emotional Aspect of Fall In both TCM and Taoist thought, fall is a time for letting go and is connected to the emotion of grief. This grief could be as simple as missing summer or something deeper. Fall … Read More