Winter time is the the most “Yin”, time. The days get shorter, we start to live more in the dark literally, less sun time, especially if you are where I am in the northern hemisphere. The temperature outside gets colder, we want to retreat indoors, slow down, sleep more and drink warm drinks, even cozy up next to a fire or under a heated blanket to gain heat we are losing.

We go inside in a literal sense and a figurative sense.

We move inwards.

Why is winter the most “Yin” time?

Well we have to look at what the word “Yin” even means…

Chinese philosophy defines the word “Yin” as a descriptive word which refers to the passive more feminine nature we all have within us. Yin can also be described as being associated to the earth, dark and cold (1).

Yin Yoga gets its name from this descriptive word, when Paulie Zink, Paul Grilley and Sara Powers, first developed this practice (3), they needed to differentiate this slower, passive, deep practice from other traditional yoga styles, as its much much slower, meditative and downward energetically. We are used to yoga styles that are invigorating, move from pose to pose holding for short times, working our muscles. Yang is very much the relative opposite of “Yin”.

Yin’s other descriptive words are…

• Feminine

• Passive

• Deeper connective tissues (joints, fascia, tendons, ligaments)

• Cold/cooler

• Dark

• Moon

• Inside/Introspective

• Slow

• Solid

• Dim

• Downward

• Water

• Heaven

• Elastic

Winter time is also known as a “Kidney” time from a Chinese medicine perspective. 

You can think of the Kidney’s, as the root of the body, where “jing” is stored the “essence” that is inherited from our ancestors. The essence is also known as our life force (2). When we stimulate the meridian lines we can move energy to those organs. Moving energy throughout the body and removing stagnant energy, allowing energy to FLOW more freely. Stimulating meridian lines and moving energy we tend to think of Acupuncture as doing this, I will later explain how Yin Yoga can do this as well.

Winter time is more of a “Yin” and Kidney time but what element is associated?

Winter time is a water reservoir time.

The element of our kidney’s is WATER.

The Kidneys dominate water metabolism by regulating the flow and amount of water in your body. It is this flow of water that enables the body to collect and excrete waste and toxins to its partner the Urinary Bladder. The pure water is sent to the Lungs. The Kidney receives Qi (also known as chi) and helps our Lungs with respiration (4). Moving energy throughout the body is necessary for our overall health. When our energy flow becomes blocked, we can also feel more tired and depleted. Feel a sort of dis-ease.

Emotions are tied to each organ in Chinese Medicine. Our emotions tied to and stored by our kidney’s is fear. Once the Kidney meridian line is stimulated it’s said to encourage more courage to radiate. Energy flows, you can think of it as negative energy flows out, positive energy flows in. When we feel tired or stuck this can also mean energy isn’t flowing.

Winter, in [Traditional Chinese Medicine], is associated with the Kidneys which hold our body's most basic and fundamental energy. It is believed that by harmonizing oneself with the seasons you can stay healthier and prevent disease, so Winter is a good time to strengthen the kidneys (4).

Rest and doing less is something that is good to do in the winter time, as we give ourselves time for recovery and gather our energy for the warmer months, when we want to be outside, enjoying things like hiking, biking, swimming, whatever “Yang” activity you like to do in the sunshine.

When the days become longer we gain more energy. So during winter months it is okay if you feel more tired, want to sleep more, or just in general want to retreat indoors. In the winter we naturally want to retreat indoors, as its colder, which gives our bodies an opportunity to rest and recover. Sort of allowing our energy to build up in the winter, so we can have energy for the warmer months.. When we rest our bodies, our mind can rest as well. We can move inward to truly listen to what we need, body, mind and spirit.

Embrace what this winter time is calling for you to do. It’s okay to do less.

Allow yourself more sleep if that’s what your body is craving. Allow yourself less plans if you’re tired of busyness. Allow yourself more down time, like journaling, reading, cooking.

After all winter is a darker more cooler time, what better time is there than in winter to truly, chill.

Relating all the above to Yin Yoga

With Yin Yoga’s roots derived from Daosim or Taosim (6) an ancient practice that encourages living in harmony. Yin Yoga’s intention is to bring harmony to the body’s energy and mind and work the deeper connective tissues (fascia, joints, tendons, ligaments) that normally get ignored in other more “Yang” like activities. Yang is more vigorous, dynamic, fire, heat/warmer, masculine energy, upward energetically and work the muscles primarily. Where “Yin” is the relative opposite.

Yin is dark, Yang is light. Yin is cool, Yang is warm. Yin is passive, Yang is dynamic.

Yin poses work the deeper connective tissues, but more specifically the poses are used to put gentle pressure (also known as acu-pressure) on certain parts of our bodies (5). This pressure stimulates different meridian lines, like the Kidney meridian discussed above. The passive pressure we apply to our body allows the tension and any stagnant energy to flow. When are bodies are stiff and tight depending where, the energy is blocked. Yin Yoga can help remove blocks.

Acupuncture’s intent is to stimulate the meridian lines too, it is one of the original ways or should I say traditional ways of doing so, but this is done with needles and also by a trained certified Acupuncturist. In Yin Yoga we use postures instead of needles to target meridian lines and thus moving energy “Qi” (chi) to the organs that are linked to the meridian. Allowing energy to flow.

We can use Yin Yoga poses to stimulate the energy flow in the body, allowing “Qi” (or chi) to move freely throughout the body, nourishing our bodies organs, doing this very thing all on our own, or through a guided Yin Yoga class. How cool is that?

We can practice Yin Yoga and do the same thing as Acupuncture does!

if you are thinking, what really? How can this be? Just know, I can write all about how Yin Yoga is like Acupuncture, and its amazing effects etc., but unless you experience it yourself it’s hard to explain the impact this still, introspective practice has.

Yin Yoga must be experienced to come to realize the effects it has on your body, mind and subtle energy body.

Practicing Yin Yoga during winter or even just in times where we need to find a little more balance in our body, especially to counter the “Yang” activities we do, can bring about more harmony in your body, and thus your mind.

Stimulating energy flow throughout the body, doesn’t just happen from movement, it can also be done with stillness.

Longer, passive holds, to work the deeper and denser tissue in the body, like Yin Yoga encourages.

Winter does allow us more time and space as we retreat indoors wanting to nourish our body and mind. We naturally retreat indoors to escape the cold, why not embrace what else you’re craving, maybe it is more sleep, more reading, reflection time, more relaxation time, more space…or more YIN YOGA!

RELEASE TENSION TO ENCOURAGE RELAXATION.

ENCOURAGE RELAXATION TO RELEASE TENSION.

Namaste,

Marzena

HELPFUL Video on Where the Kidney Meridian is located.

Other Blog Posts on Yin Yoga By Marzena

Benefits of Yin Yoga Blog Post By Marzena

Sources

1. Dictionary.com (2021) Definition of Yin: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/yin

2. Energy Medicine for Water Element (2021) https://wellwithin.net/energymedicinetopics/water-element/

3. Wikipedia (2021) Definition of - What is Yin yoga? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_Yoga

4. Jamie Kauffman (2019) What Chinese Medicine has to say about Winter

5. Bernie Clark Article on Yin Yoga What’s That: https://yinyoga.com/yin-yoga-whats-that/

6. Anna Siedal (2021). Daoism Chinese philosophy and religion