Befriending the Hip: A Holistic Approach to Hip Tension

Befriending the Hip: A Holistic Approach to Hip Tension

Yin Yoga for Tight Hips
Yin &Pranayama

Befriending the Hip: A Holistic Approach to Hip Tension

Ever felt frustrated with persistent hip tension that just won’t go away? Ever wondered if there’s a simpler, more holistic way to relieve that discomfort? Today, we’re using the healing power of awareness in movement: Yin Yoga, to bring radical acceptance and relief to our bodies.  I’ll equip you with practical strategies to maximize your relaxation and release built-up tension not just for today, but more and more over time.

Radical Acceptance is a Catalyst for Lasting Relief

As you practice the postures, we’ll be using a simple breathing protocol to soothe and befriend your hips. By the end of our practice together, you’ll have developed a more comprehensive understanding of your hip tension and some strategies to overcome it.

Props needed: bolster, blocks, blanket

Yin & Somatics: Lasting Relief for Hip and Groin Tension

Yin & Somatics: Lasting Relief for Hip and Groin Tension

Yin Yoga Podcast
Yin & Somatics

Lasting Relief for Hip and Groin Tension

Ever wondered why tension seems to build up in certain areas of your body, like the front of your pelvis and groins? This episode of the Yin Yoga Pod-practice aims to provide answers to this question while helping you find a solution through mindful movement. education and of course, stretching. We unravel the profound connection between your daily habits, lifestyle, and the discomfort you feel in these areas, developing a comprehensive understanding of these correlations. 

Befriending tension

The goal here isn’t just to stretch these sensitive areas, it’s to help you understand the gripping and holding patterns in your body, and how to befriend them. We also delve into the emotional states that contribute to tension in the front pelvis and groin providing insights into how you might use these techniques to overcome this pain long term.

Props needed: bolster, block(s), blanket

Thoracic Nerve Flossing

Thoracic Nerve Flossing

Yin Yoga Podcast
Yin & Somatics

Thoracic Nerve Flossing

Yoga is a bit preoccupied with muscles, Yin perhaps a bit too preoccupied with joints and connective tissues. But there is another element to healthy movement that is being influenced in our practice, in all of our movement really… that’s the nerves. 

This practice puts the other tissues in a supporting role in favor of mobilizing, and gaining awareness of our nerves. Especially the ones that exit the thoracic region of the spine. We will use somatic and a bolster to gently mobilize the nerves and soften the experience of the spine. 

This is a wonderful practice to return to if you frequently have a stiff or painful upper back. 

Props needed: bolster, block(s), blanket

Yinversion

Yinversion

Yin Yoga Podcast
Yin & Creative Props

Yinversion

We don’t usually think about inversions in Yin. So to introduce them into a mild practice takes a bit of creativity and, in this case a bolster and a strap. The poses will emphasize the hips but our true purpose is to encounter something new, something novel. Throughout the practice you’ll be contemplating some features of your nervous system and learning ways to keep your brain sharp, flexible and vibrant throughout your life span.

Props Needed: Blanket, bolster or pillow, yoga strap, block

 

Yin Yoga Podcast

The Toes Have It

The Toes Have It

Yoga for Knee Pain
Yin & Somatics

The Toes Have It

This practice is all about the lower body. But we will work with the feet, ankles, knees, thighs and hips with an unorthodox somatic lens, the toes. You will be delighted to discover how influential these appendages are in your poses and movements and your knees and ankles will thank you for the attention.

This practice is geared especially to my listeners with foot, ankle and knee pain, but anyone with a lower body will enjoy this unique practice.

Props Needed: Blanket, bolster or pillow, yoga strap

 

Neck Pain Relief

Neck Pain Relief

Neck Pain Relief

Yin & Somatics

Neck Pain Relief

The human neck is a tricky place. It’s a complex experience of musculoskeletal, nervous and vascular tissue. But also bound to thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Any of these components of the neck can contribute to issues here.  

For this pod practice I have created a somatic lesson to address this complexity. We will lean mostly in to somatics here with just a couple of Yin poses for gentle tension of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM). This is a very simple practice that you could even do in your bed. All you need is something to rest/slide your head on.