So most of us have probably been to Yin classes that feel Restorative, and Restorative that feels like Yin. Adding to the confusion, is there a difference, if so, what?

Restorative Yoga

So like Yin, there will (should!) be props, and even more so in Restorative. As the body is completely held in position here, feeling weightless, allowing the body to be completely relaxed. These classes are amazing for a total wind down, de-stress and relaxing comfort. Poses are held for even longer than Yin (generally) and we’re aiming to go into rest and repair mode (parasympathetic nervous system). Great for Physical, mental and emotional relaxation. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for slowing our heart rate, increasing blood flow to vital organs and calming us down, among other things. It’s a great break between an active yoga schedule or if you’re feeling a bit under the weather.

Yin Yoga

In Yin Yoga, we can feel discomfort, in fact at points discomfort is a likely part of our practice. Out of discomfort we can grow, release and learn. Yin uses Meridian lines in the body (from Chinese Medicine) that are associated with different organs and emotions that are stored in the body. Different poses, length of poses held and sequences of poses can activate different feelings as well as physical stretching. Yin can help increase your passive range of motion (PROM) which in turn can have a positive effect on your active range of motion (AROM). In Yin we work with fascia (among other things), fascia is a honeycomb-like structure that encompasses everything internally. It’s in your muscles, organs, ligaments and tendons; all fascia. It’s everywhere! Fascia is stretchy, hugely so. When under stress (stretching) fascia can spread out, the fluid in the honeycomb structure gets renewed, you might notice the sensation of this when you come out of a Yin posture. Over time repeatedly stretching in Yin poses can make us more flexible.

In summary…

There are differences and in turn can have different outcomes. What do you need today? Do you need to feel restored? Or something else? Yin classes can have lots of outcomes depending on the structure of the class and restorative seems to just have one. One isn’t necessarily superior to the other, they just do different things. So what will it be today?