The Yin Yoga Kit: The Practice of Quiet Power » (Book with 14 cards and 72-min. CD in a b)

Biff Mithoefer teaches Yin Yoga at Omega Institute, throughout the U.S., and internationally. He is the author of The Yin Yoga Kit, coauthor of The Therapeutic Yoga Kit, and a founder and director of the Jamtse Sponsorship Program for the support of Tibetan refuge children. He lives in Vermont.

Yin Yoga, known as the quiet yoga, concentrates on the connective tissue and the bones, the parts of our body that are closest to our core and critical to our physical well-being and range of motion. Its meditative non-movement enables the muscles to relax, the nerves to calm, and the surrounding connective tissue to remain healthy and supple.

Library Journal

Yin yoga, developed by Paul Grilley (Yin Yoga), is a gentle alternative to yoga that allows the body to relax through floor poses held for up to five minutes. Most yoga taught in North America is yang yoga, meaning that it emphasizes muscular movement. Alternately, yin yoga concentrates on connective tissue and bones and is based on the notion that the quiet acceptance derived from easing the core parts of the body into a pose encourages the flow of qi (life force) and results in good health. Fourteen safe beginner and advanced poses are clearly illustrated with photographs; the advanced poses include instructions on variations. Yin yoga teacher Mithoefer describes the effect of each pose on the chakras (energy centers) and meridians (channels through which qi travels). Including a deck of 14 yoga cards and a 72-minute CD with sample routines narrated by the author, this book nicely complements the many yang yoga titles already on the market. Recommended for libraries with yoga collections.-Dede Archer, Naples, FL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Preface

Introduction: The Practice of Yin Yoga

Part 1 The Principles of Yin Yoga

Yin and Yang
The Balance of Yin and Yang

Qi
The Birth of Qi Physical Qi Resonance, Intention, Transformation, and Attachment Encouraging the Flow of Qi

The Taoist Meridian System
Table: Meridian Attributes

The Tantric Chakra System
Table: Chakra Attributes

Yin Postures, Meridians, and Chakras
Table: Meridians and Chakras Affected by Each Yin Posture

Part 2 Practicing Yin Yoga

Guidelines for a Yin Yoga Practice

The Yin Yoga Postures
Resting Pose Half Butterfly Butterfly Square Pose Shoelace Seal Saddle Swan Sleeping Swan Forward Bend Dragonfly Frog Spinal Twist Final Relaxation

The Practice of Mindfulness

The Practice of Loving Kindness

Using the Yin Yoga Kit to Design Your Personal Practice
How to Use the Yin Yoga CD How to Use the Yin Yoga Cards The Use of Props

Part 3 Anatomy and Yin Yoga

The Connective Tissue

The Sacrum and the Lumbar Spine
Relaxing the Iliopsoas

Tension and Compression

Movement in the Hips and Spine
Movement in the Hip Joints Movement in the Spine Table: Spine and Hip Movements in Yin Postures

Appendix 1: Some Sample Practices

Appendix 2: Practices for Specific Organ Meridians

Appendix 3: Using Acupressure Points while Practicing Yin Yoga

Resources

Acknowledgments