WELCOME

Thank you for registering for yin yoga!

Here’s a little about me and yin yoga:
I'm Kathryn. I teach a functional approach to yoga, meaning I’ll guide you on where to feel sensations (think along the backside and outer thighs!), while offering pose variations and prop suggestions to help you find comfort in each shape. Whether you're new to yoga or have been practicing for a while, labels like “beginner” or “advanced” don’t really apply here.

My style might differ from what you’ve experienced before. I’ve studied under Paul and Suzee Grilley, the creators of Yin yoga and this functional approach, along with some of their students who have build upon their teachings. Yin yoga is rooted in the Hatha yoga tradition, Taoist yoga, Chinese Medicine, and fascial science.

Yin yoga is wonderful for improving mobility, increasing range of motion, and releasing muscle tension and soreness. It’s also a powerful way to connect with your body, calm the nervous system, and support the circulation of blood, fluids, and energy. The shapes we’ll explore can align with Chinese Medicine channels, harmonizing Qi, and may even help with things like anxiety, digestion, and sleep.

Since we’ll be practicing online, I want to share a few tips to help you feel comfortable during your practice.

For class, try to set up a cozy floor space with a yoga mat or soft rug. Keep a set of blocks and a blanket nearby. If you have them, props like a bolster and a strap are great additions, but there’s no need to rush out and buy anything.

You can easily substitute props with household items:

• a pillow or rolled-up blanket can serve as a bolster

• a robe belt, jump rope, or long scarf can replace a yoga strap

• a couple of sturdy, thick books can stand in for blocks

Remember, there’s no hierarchy in poses—each one can be adapted to suit your body, and props are wonderful tools to help with that.

It’s also common to notice changes in body temperature or other sensations during class. I like to have a blanket and socks nearby just in case. And wear whatever makes you feel comfortable (yoga leggings aren’t required!).

During practice, it’s important to avoid any sharp pain or numbness. If you feel either, ease out of the pose. I can always suggest a variation, or you can rest until you're ready to join in the next shape.

In Yin yoga, we use time—not muscular effort—to create change in the body. As you settle into each shape, aim for "middle effort," using about 50-70% of your range of motion.

Allow yourself to relax as you hold the pose. Releasing muscular tension helps elongate the connective tissues (like fascia and joints) around specific target areas. By gently stressing these tissues, we stimulate the release of hyaluronic acid, which binds with water, and draws more hydration to the area. This process promotes better oxygenation, enhances circulation of energy and fluids, and nourishes the muscles and fascia.

Spending this time with ourselves can sometimes bring up unexpected emotions (and often, it doesn’t). There’s no right or wrong way to experience class. Personally, this practice has helped me cultivate a lot of self-compassion, both for my body and my emotional self.

No need to commit this all to memory. I'll mention these things from time to time in class.

CONNECT

I welcome your questions, thoughts, ideas and experiences. My goal with this class, and Lakeside Yin as a whole, is to offer mindfulness and movement practices that support you. Let me know how I can help.