Yin softens the edges, Yang builds the core
yoga & breathwork
Yoga that meets your body
Functional yoga
Functional yoga is not another style of yoga; it is an approach that can be applied to any style and even any posture you practice.
Functional yoga is based on the scientifically proven premise that our skeletons, tissues, physiology, temperament and motivation are made and organized in a unique way that is uniquely ours, and is not replicated anywhere else in the universe. This uniqueness comes with the whole package of talents and limitations that make up who we are.
In other words, it means that some of us are musical but bad with numbers, others can run for miles but can’t sit cross-legged on the floor. Someone else can cook delicious food but can’t do a handstand for fun and may hate sports.
The variety of human anatomy and psychology is truly infinite.
Functional Yoga acknowledges and respects these differences without sacrificing any aspect of life. Instead of focusing on aesthetic goals – I want to bend my back like them, sing like them, look like them – we focus on function – strengthening the spine, expressing ourselves, feeling good in our own skin. It is a profound change in approach, freeing us to be who we are without excuses or unrealistic expectations.
With this approach, all bodies can benefit from the postures in their own unique way and enjoy a practice that is healthy, safe, nourishing, fulfilling and fun, regardless of age, background, body shape or flexibility.
Functional Yoga was developed and organized into a system by my teachers Paul and Suzee Grilley; it includes a deep understanding of how the body works through functional anatomy studies, as well as the ever-present insight that we are much more than our bodies, underpinned by yoga philosophy.
Embrace your shadow to meet the light
About Yin and Yang
Yin and Yang are the Taoist terms that describe what they call the two most important forces in the universe. Yang includes all that is dynamic, constantly changing, visible, hot and strong; Yin is all that is static, still, hidden, cold and soft. These terms are not absolute, they are the two parts of a whole: one cannot exist without the other. For the Taoists – and for the yogis – a balanced life includes both aspects balancing each other.
Our modern life is extremely yang-oriented: we value visibility, competition and strength. To experience true fulfillment, we must keep these qualities in check, otherwise they will develop into ego-strengthening, aggression and rigidity. The best way to do this is to cultivate our Yin qualities of kindness, spaciousness and quietness.
A well-balanced yoga practice meets our need for both aspects: some people need more yin, some more yang, but we all need both.
Come home to your body
YIN YOGA
A practice in “silence”, intended to awaken different tissues and energies within us.
Yin Yoga has two main characteristics: we do it with the muscles relaxed and we stay in the poses longer.
Most of the poses are done on the floor and we normally stay in poses for between 2 and 5 minutes.
A Yin Yoga practice focuses on the connective tissue of our body. This tissue is rich in fluid and the structure of this fluid is fundamental in determining our flexibility, health and well-being. When we gently stimulate the connective tissue (or fascia) for a while, we can strongly influence recovery and regeneration processes. As a result, energy can flow much more effectively throughout the body.
But there is more. Yin Yoga stimulates our introspection, our ability to remain still and observe what is happening in our body and mind. With regular practice, we become calmer, better able to relax, even when faced with challenges.
Yin Yoga is a wonderful preparation for meditation.
Where breath meets awareness
YANG YOGA
Yang Yoga is any yoga that uses the traditional (yang) dynamic and repetitive approaches to stimulate blood flow, muscle activity, coordination and balance. Classes can be gentle or challenging, because sometimes we need one and sometimes the other. The important thing here is not to strive for perfection, but to practice: it is better to do something that quickly invites you back to the mat than to practice yourself and give up too soon. YIN YANG The combination of two worlds.
Stillness and strength, united
YIN / YANG YOGA
The best of both…
Not to escape, but to arrive
Meditation
Many people think that meditation means becoming completely still and stopping all thoughts. That is of course a wonderful state to achieve, but for most of us an elusive and seemingly impossible goal. But even if we never reach this point, regular meditation can bring us insights, depth of feeling, understanding, wisdom and peace.
In yoga, meditation consists of two stages: Stage one, called dharana, is the practice of concentrating the mind on one object and holding it there for a long time. This object can be anything: the breath, an affirmation or mantra, one or more of the energy centers that sit in our spine. At first, everything in us rebels against this effort; we want to move, to do something, we come up with all sorts of reasons why we should stop – our legs fall asleep, our back hurts, this is a waste of time, and all that. But if we hold on against all odds, something deep within us shifts and becomes quieter. This silence then slowly allows us to examine and explore our feelings and behaviors with calmness and without attachment.
When we make this practice our own, the second stage becomes possible: dhyana, or complete absorption in what we perceive. In this state, the separation between us and the object of our perception disappears and our experience and understanding take us to a whole new level. It is as if the ‘I’ that constantly tells our story temporarily fades away and we become one with everything.
These concepts are difficult to put into words. The best way to understand them is to do them.
If you meditate regularly, the effects in your daily life are permanent. You become calmer, more balanced and you can concentrate better. Of course, it is important to discover a form of meditation that suits you best.