Yin vs Yang Yoga

The existence of Yin Yoga as a named style of yoga with specific parameters and intentions implies that there is also a similarly specific Yang Yoga. There isn't. But that's not to say that yang yoga doesn't exist. Most styles of yoga asana in Western culture are relatively "yang" in their expression. Yin Yoga (and Restorative Yoga) are delicious counterbalances to our very yang yoga ways.

Hold on.

What is Yin & Yang?

When I first explored the concept of yin in-depth with a teacher some years ago, eager to learn and an avid reader, I asked for resources and reading material to dive deeper. He told me that nothing I could find that directly addressed the topic of yin would do it justice and pointed me instead to the Tao Te Ching. [¹]

FOURTY-TWO The Tao begot one. One begot two. Two begot three. And three begot the ten thousand things. The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang. They achieve harmony by combining these forces. Men hate to be "orphaned," "widowed," or "worthless," But this is how kings and lords describe themselves. For one gains by losing And loses by gaining. What others teach, I also teach; that is: "A violent man will die a violent death!" This will be the essence of my teaching. Lao Tsu

In Taoist metaphysics, distinctions between good and bad, along with other dichotomous moral judgments, are perceptual, not real; so, the duality of yin and yang is an indivisible whole. [²]

Yin and yang is a philosophical concept that describes opposite yet interconnected forces. It is illustrated beautifully with the yin/yang symbol that you're likely familiar with.

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin Yoga is a relatively new style and subset of yoga poses, popularized in the 90s by Sarah Powers and Bernie Clark. To fully grasp the recent history of Yin Yoga asana in Western society, you’ll want to read about the rich drama between Paulie Zink (teacher) and Paul Grilley (his student), but I won’t get into that today.

Yin Yoga is a particular, named, style of yoga made up of about 25 poses. It is known for its long pose holds (2+ minutes), proximity to the floor (there is only ONE standing Yin Yoga pose), and depth of reach to bones and connective tissue. 

Yin styles of yoga asana tend to be slow, low-down, still, passive, and yielding.

Common verbs heard among the queues in a yin-style yoga class are melt, ease, relax, soften, marinate, and float. For example, “Gently, as slowly as possible, ease yourself back onto your bolster. Allow your arms to float down to a comfortable resting position against the earth. Now soften and relax.”

What is Yang Yoga?

Yang styles are comparatively faster, include more standing poses, and are active, in motion, and striving.

Common queues in a yang-style class include verbs like lift, lengthen, engage, activate, and hold. For example, “Activate your legs by engaging your thighs and lifting your kneecaps. Tighten and firm through your core. Lift your collarbone.”

If we were to chart along a linear graph the most yin styles of yoga to the most yang styles of yoga asana, it might look like this:

From the most "yin" styles of yoga asana to the most "yang" styles, I would plot them as shown: Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga. It’s true! Restorative yoga is even more yin than Yin Yoga itself. Yin Yoga seeks a targeted release of effort, whereas Restorative Yoga aims for a global release of effort. A Yin vs Restorative Yoga post is one for another time.

Yin vs Yang Yoga Recap

To recap, Yin Yoga is a style of yoga asana named and defined in the 90s. It is known for its long pose holds, proximity to the floor, and depth of reach to bones and connective tissue. Yang, yin's natural philosophically defined counterbalance, does not have its own style of yoga, but much of the yoga we practice is already very yang. I hope this quick overview helped you explore the topic of yin vs yang yoga to an informed, high-level conclusion.

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References

1. Lao Tsu (401) “Tao Te Ching.” In Goodreads, December 17, 2023. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67896.Tao_Te_Ching.

2. “Yin and Yang.” In Wikipedia, December 10, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yin_and_yang&oldid=1189158334.